Xerophyte

Habit

Simple at first later usually clustering.

Central Spines

1 (or more), brown or black, about 20 mm long tending to point downward.

Seeds

Bell-shaped glossy black.

Flowers

Large up to 6 cm in diameter, few often closely packed apically, bright satiny yellow, pericarpels and tube with dense white to brownish wool and bristles. Stigma-lobes purplish.

Spines

Slender hair-like, straight or slightly curved, relatively sparse that does not hide the epidermis.

Ribs

about 12, well defined rounded.

Stem

More or less spherical with flattened top, deep-green and can get deep purplish to maroon during winter dormancy, though this colour can be retained if grown in sufficient light. However the new growth is green but will soon darken to match the older epidermis.

Radial Spines

about 12 spreading radially, with a starlike appearance, whitish, pale rose or brown about 10 mm long.

Fruits

Ovoid to short oblong dehiscent lengthwise to expose the seeds and white pulp.