Flora of North America species comparison

11–18(–28) per areole, at most areoles, moderately to wholly obscuring stems, spreading or erect, whitish, pale yellow to pinkish tan to reddish, aging brown or black, terete or abaxial spines basally flattened, grading in length, the longest porrect to reflexed, 2–2.5(–3.5) cm, with 0–6 bristlelike spines at areole margins;

sheaths slightly baggy, whitish becoming yellow to golden apically.

(7–)9–14 per areole, at most areoles, erect or spreading, yellow, aging red- to gray-black with pale tips, terete or abaxial ones slightly flattened, the longest to 3 cm;

marginal bristlelike spines shorter, 0–4;

sheaths pale yellow becoming golden apically, baggy.

in thin adaxial crescent, yellow or tan to rusty, 0.5–6 mm.

in adaxial crescent and sometimes small tuft, yellow, inconspicuous, 0.5–2 mm.

inner tepals greenish yellow, often with tips reddish abaxially, spatulate, 22–30 mm, apiculate to emarginate-apiculate;

filaments yellow-green to green;

anthers yellow to orange-yellow;

style cream to yellow, sometimes basally greenish;

stigma lobes greenish cream, cream or yellow.

inner tepals pale reddish maroon-brown, elliptic, of irregular lengths, 8–15 mm, emarginate-apiculate;

filaments green;

anthers yellow;

style and stigma lobes cream.

yellowish, drying tan, globose, tuberculate, budlike with spines similar to those of stem segments but slightly shorter, often reflexed;

proximal tubercles slightly elongated if fruits fertile;

umbilicus 4–5 mm deep;

areoles 22–32(–40).

easily detached, tan when mature and fertile, globose, 17–24 × 17–21 mm, dry, tuberculate, spineless but bearing numerous very long glochids;

basal tubercles not markedly longer than distal ones (except in sterile fruits);

areoles 30–40.

pale yellow, angular-suborbicular, flattened to slightly warped, 4.5–6 × 4.5–5.7 mm, sides with 3–5 depressions;

girdle smooth, not protruding.

pale yellow, rounded-deltoid, slightly flattened, 3–4.5 × 3–4 mm, sides smooth;

girdle smooth, not protruding.

= 22.

= 22, 33.