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This variety is easily recognized by the very dark olive-green body and
the strong, more numerous, longer, overlapping, spines that are white
with a darker base.
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Description: Solitary cactus. Usually larger
than the typical gibbosum.
Stem: Deep
olive-green to almost black, flat to almost
spherical, 3-5(-10) cm tall, up to 12 cm in diameter, the apex is
slightly woolly.
Ribs: 10-16 straight, divided in well distinct, angular ribs.
Areoles: Whitish-grey,
elongated.
Radial spines: 7-10 (-12) 25-35 mm, strong, long, erect,
overlapping, pastel-white (but also yellow or black), with a darker
(reddish or brownish) base when young, that becomes whitish-grey as they
age.
Central spines: 0-2 very similar to the radials.
Flowers:
Infundibuliform
in the nearest periphery just around the apex, 45-60 mm
long, 60-65 in diameter.
Tepals ivory white with a brownish mid rib or
occasionally reddish.
Blooming season: Will flower without a distinct
resting period.
Fruit:
Globose or
fusiform, 20-40
mm long green with white bordered scale
Cultivation:
This plant is a summer
grower and
pretty easy to
cultivate. Water
and fertilize moderately
in summer. It requires excellent drainage.
Make sure that
soil gets the chance to dry out in between waterings.
During cold weather
periods keep rather dry,
but it can handle excessive water to
little water.
Best
for half-shade but
it grows well in full sun and full shade, too (but in
full sun it turns an uneven brownish red colour).
Frost Tolerance: Hardy down to -12° to -32° C.
Propagation: Mainly through seeds.
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Cultivation
and Mail Sale 
