Description:
E. crispatus
is a
solitary plant (or rarely branching) closely covered with very long
spines and wavy
ribs. This is a very variable species that now includes many form
(previously considered independent species) with one form intergrading
into another, creating a taxonomig nightmare. It is one of the
Echinofossulocactus with the prettiest
spination.
Stem:
Up to 20 cm tall, 10 cm wide, globose, short-cylindric or obovoid,
somewhat depressed at apex, light green to olive-green.
Ribs:
(25-)30-60(-80) thin with very regularly and attractively
waived, depressed in the region of areoles. The flattened, waivy or
curled ridged of this species are characteristic of other kinds of
Echinofossulocactus.
Areoles: 1 to 3 in each ribs, woolly in youth, later naked.
Radial spines: Usually 4 to 6 flattened, whitish to brownish, 0,5
to 1 cm long and about 0,6-1 mm wide at the base.
Central spine: 3-4 very flattened, whitish, yellowish, brownish
to almost black, often darker at the tip, directed upwards ± rigid,
ferocious-looking, straight or curved, unequal with one very long (from
1 to 10 cm long) and 1-5 mm wide at the base
Flowers: Central, funnel-shaped rather small, perianth segments
in two series, pale pink with a purplish midrib, oblong-linear, acute.
Flower tube covered with imbricated scales.
Blooming season: Late spring to summer.
Fruit: 8-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, obovoid reddish to greysh, dry
at maturity.
Seeds: 1 mm long x 0,9 mm wide, pyriform to reniform, black. Head
with celled and wavy wall.
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