Flora of North America species comparison

0–1(–2) per areole, usually few along margins of stem segments, deflexed to erect, pale yellow to horn colored (aging reddish brown), straight to slightly curved, acicular, terete, the longest to 40 mm, usually shorter.

0–11 per areole, in nearly all areoles to only in some marginal areoles or absent, spreading in all directions, yellow, aging brown, straight or curving, the longest stout, oval in cross section, 12–40(–60) mm, not markedly barbed.

dense in crescent at adaxial edge of areole, nearly encircling areoles, and in subapical tuft, of even height, yellow to tan, aging brown, to 5 mm.

inconspicuous, few to many in crescent at adaxial edge of areole, yellow, aging brown, often incurved, subequal to increasing in length toward adaxial edge of areole, to 4 mm.

inner tepals yellow throughout, fading orangish, 25–45 mm;

filaments pale yellow throughout or pale yellow proximally, white distally;

anthers pale yellow;

style white;

stigma lobes light green.

inner tepals light yellow throughout, 25–30 mm;

filaments yellow;

anthers yellow;

style and stigma lobes yellowish.

purplish, green inside, obovoid to barrel-shaped, 25–45 × 20–30 mm, fleshy, glabrous, spineless;

areoles 34–44(–54).

purplish throughout, stipitate, ellipsoid or barrel-shaped, 40–60 × 25–30(–40) mm, juicy, spineless;

areoles 6–10.

tan, 3.5–5 × 3–4 mm, sides convex, often bearing bumps;

girdle protruding 0.5 mm.

tan, subcircular, 4–5 × 4–4.5 mm, with slightly irregular surface;

girdle protruding to 1 mm.

= 22.

= 44 (cultivated), 66.