Xerophyte

Central Spines

Stronger than the type, almost white to blackish up to 50 mm long.

Seeds

1,5 mm wide, black.

Description

Solitary, rarely offsetting of its own. It seems likely that many of the forms described as species can be regarded under humilis, as subspecies or as forms and now some authors considers C. humilis ssp. longispina (Ritter) Doweld as C. humilis ssp. humilis (Philippi) Hutchison.

Roots

Massive, thickened rootstock going well down into the ground, with a long narrow neck.

Note

The identification of the true 'longispina' may concern a degree of uncertainty as to what this plant is, and many plants found in cultivation are Copiapoa humilisSN|9790]]SN|9790]] ssp. humilis.

Flowers

Yellow, campanulate, scented, about 20 (or more) mm long, growing from the centre of the white wool at the apex.

Ribs

About 8-14 forming distinct tubercles.

Stem

Hemispherical, lighter green (usually) to dark green (occasionally almost black) about 10 cm in diameter, covered with greyish wax. It is usually less caespitose than the type. The stem is also harder than that of the Copiapoa humilisSN|9790]]SN|9790]]. The crown is somewhat depressed, with white woolly felt.

Radial Spines

7 to 90 finer and shorter, up to 20 mm long.

Fruits

Round, naked, red, about 8 mm long.

Areoles

Well separated, with white wool.