Xerophyte

Central Spines

2-3, very short, stout, reddish brown to black, becoming grey with age, to 4 mm long (occasionally the lowermost longer).

Description

Solitary at first, or slowly clumping flat with ground.

Roots

Taproots large.

Note

The var. caput-medusae and var. tetracantha; often mentioned in literature and sometimes offered in seed lists, should be fully synonymized with the type variety.

Tubercles

Pyramidal, firm. The axil is furnished by abundant wooll. Tubercles arrangement 13 - 21

Flowers

Funnelform in a rings on the crown barely rising above the tubercles, whitish to pale yellow with pinkish midstripe, 1-2 cm long and diameter.

Blooming Season

Flowering period spring

Stem

Flattened globose to depressed globose and not rising much above ground level, dull grey-green 7.5 cm wide (eventually gets to 10 or 15 cm in diameter)

Radial Spines

Mostly hidden under white wool, usually on young stems only, 2 - 6, white, bristle-like, to 3 mm long.

Fruits

Club-shaped, red, to 10 mm long.