| Place of origin:
South of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
Description: The species is very variable
since there are known at least 10 varieties. The type species
presents dark green globular stem, of between 5 and 11 cm.
wide. Older specimens can be found clumped.
The ribs appear in number of between 8 and 10, cleared and
a little tuberous.
The areolas are very felted when young and are separated about
1 cm. to each other.
The radial spines are thin, yellow and of between 10 and 15
or even more. The central spines are between 3 and 4 but it
can be absent; they are about 2.5 cm. long and are of reddish
brown color with the tip clearer.
The flowers are between 4 and 6 cm., they are of shining yellow
color and present woolly tube.
There are known different varieties like albispinus, which
have between 7 and 9 radial spines and 1 acute central spine,
all white and with small flowers; multiflorus, of acute ribs,
spines less than 2 cm. and small and numerous flowers; tortuosus,
with between 4 and 6 central but short and robust spines;
and uruguayensis, with 11 big, but tuberous ribs, without
central spines, and with thin radial spines.
Growing tips: Propagation is made by seeds
or by rooting offsets. |
