In 2013 we offered two other collections of this widespread and variable South American globular cactus, but each is distinctive in its own way. This one, received as Notocactus megalanthus, was so named for its especially large but otherwise typical flowers of Notocactus sensu strictu: satiny yellow with red stigmas. The spines of this species are more variable. In this case, they resemble a combination of the two forms offered in 2013. There are two prominent needle-like central spines to 1.5 cm (5/8") long, one erect, the other reflexed, and the radials are dense enough to partly obscure the tuberculate body. We offer second generation plants grown from seed originally collected by Luis Wolman (LW10) at Cerro Mosquitos, Canelones, Uruguay. HBG 123347, $6.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 87 (3), May - June, 2015