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Description: Solitary or
slowly clustering, with peculiar spine clusters characteristically bent
backward in a distinctive fashion.
Stem: Flattened-globose,10-15 (25)cm in diameter, 10cm tall pale green,
to olive green that
can tinge of orangish purple in full sun. The
epidermis has a velvety appearance. The apex is slightly depressed and
woolly.
Ribs: 10 to 12 thick, large, divided into polygonal rounded
(not chinned) tubercles,
separated by arched furrows.
Roots: Fibrous
Areoles: Large long, oval 10x14 mm, with cream-yellowish wool, then blackish dismantling
with time.
Spines: Strong, very stiff, bent backward, initially blackish with a brown base then becoming
grey-pinkish to whitish brown with black point.
Radial spines: (5-)7-9 up to 25 mm long
Central spines: One (or two) of the same length.
Flowers:
Infundibuliform near the apex, diameter and height 45-50mm.
Pericarpell dull green very short. External
tepals spatulate, slightly bent outward , white with brownish green
midrib. Inner tepals intern narrower, spatulate and slightly
denticulate, white with carmine/pink purplish throat. Style carmine with
carmine pink 10-12 lobes. Pollen yellow.
Fruit: Globose of approximately 2 cm of diameter, becoming red
carmine with maturity. Pulp intense cherry-red.
Seeds: Microsemineum type, section pirisemineum, very small (0.6
X 0.4mm),
testa reddish shining and smooth.
NOTE: It is a very variable species with a wide distribution and
several controversial varieties, forms and subspecies has been
described. Of them only two has been recognized:
subsp. argentinense coming from Gonzales, Salta,
Argentina.
subsp. dorisie coming from Tarija, Bolivia.
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Cultivation
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