Sclerocactus uncinatus uncinatus

Description

Solitary or in clusters of 3 or 4; plant body nearly globular or a little elongated, 5 to 8 cm high, usually solitary, from large and fleshy roots; ribs spiral, divided into dark-green tubercles, 4 to 5 cm high; radial spines 20 or more, pectinate, at first pale yellow, in age white; in seedlings the spines pubescent; central spines usually 4, the 3 upper similar to the radials, although a little stouter and in young areoles not easily distinguished from them, the lower central spines stout and strongly hooked, 15 mm long; flowers not seen; fruit green, suggesting that of a Coryphantha, clavate, bearing a few naked scales near top; seed black, smooth, shining.