Xerophyte

Habit

Shrub to 30 cm high.

Roots

Root tuber globose, oozing a white sap if injured, and usually without rhizomes.

Stem Segments

Upright, fleshy, obovate to round, mostly wider than long 5-13 cm long, waxy dark to somewhat blue-green, weakly or not narrowed near base (stipitate).

Flowers

5-9 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, usually pale yellow and red in centre, but also, yellow, orange, magenta, pink or salmon. Stigma-lobes white to cream colored.

Glochids

Yellow to reddish brown.

Spines

1-4 per areole in upper part of the pad, erect to spreading, whitish, greyish, or shades of rust, often needle-like, but may be flat or twisted.

Fruits

Fleshy, mostly chunky and short, 2.5-5 cm long, 2 cm wide, pinkish purple.Chromosome number. 2n=44.