Flora of North America species comparison

segments firmly attached, green, 3–9(–15) × 0.5–1.5(–2.2) cm;

tubercles prominent, short, 0.5–1 cm;

areoles oval to obdeltate, 2–6 × 1.5–4 mm;

wool pale yellow to white, aging gray.

(1–)3–8(–10) spines per areole, in all but basalmost areoles, best developed toward apex, interlacing with spines of adjacent areoles, whitish or pale yellow, pale red-brown, sometimes tipped yellow, of 2 kinds;

radial spines slender, flattened basally, deflexed, 5–8 mm, surrounding central spines;

central spines usually 4(–6), spreading into a cross, stout, subterete, 2–3.4(–4.5) cm;

also 0–2 bristlelike spines;

sheaths whitish to pale yellow (rarely golden) throughout or tipped yellow to golden.

(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 adaxial tuft, yellow, 1–3 mm.

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

inner tepals yellow to green-yellow, spatulate, 15–25(–30) mm, apiculate;

filaments yellowish or yellow-green;

anthers yellow;

style white to yellowish;

stigma lobes whitish, yellowish, or pale green (rarely pink tinged).

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

filaments green;

anthers yellow;

style and stigma lobes cream.

rarely proliferating, yellow to greenish yellow, broadly cylindric to subspheric, 18–30(–35) × 15–22(–32) mm, fleshy, tuberculate, spineless;

tubercles subequal or distalmost longest, usually prominent;

umbilicus 7–8 mm deep;

areoles 36–62.

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, subcircular to slightly angular in outline, flattened to warped, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3.5 mm, sides smooth or with 1–3 depressions;

girdle smooth.

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

girdle smooth, not protruding.

= 22, 44.

= 22, 33.