Xerophyte

Central Spines

3 to 5 thin, 6-8 cm long, needle-like bristly, yellow to brownish.

Flowers

3-4 cm in diameter, widely funnelform, yellow or orangish with lots of shiny petals aranged almost like a marigold.

Ribs

About 20, with chin shaped humps.

Stem

Solitary (sometime forming few branched clumps), flattened globose to globose. (but often taller and less flattened in cultivation) green, and up to 25 cm broad.

Radial Spines

Numerous (20-30) similar in colour to the central spines.