Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually 2, slender, rigid, straight, not hooked, erect, divergent, dark tipped, turning grey as the ages 6-10 mm long.

Sap

Without latex.

Seeds

1 mm long.

Tubercles

Small, (3-)5-6 mm hight, crowded, conical/pyramidal, four-angled basally.

Flowers

Deep magenta-pink to pale pink, funnel-shaped.

Stem

Globularor somewhat elongate in age, glaucous green, up to 15 cm high, 10-11 cm in diameter, apex wolly.

Fruits

Red, pinkish at the base, about 1 cm long.

Habit

Plants usually solitary. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like pink flowers. There are ample variations among plants from different origin.

Axils

Slightly woolly only on new growth, later naked.

Blooming Season

Spring.

Radial Spines

10 to 25, smooth, rigid, acicular, straight or slightly curved, white, radiating, bristly, 3-6 mm long.

Areoles

Small, 2-3 mm, short-elliptic, when young a little woolly, in age glabrate.