Lobivia longispina

Origin: ArgentinaThis is a fiercely spined and quite variable species with spectacular flowers of almost any colour: red, pink, yellow, bicoloured or white. Very large and spiny cactus, solitary or branched. The body is almost concealed by the spines.Stem: Bluish-green, spherical at first and later sort cylindrical, and may grow 25 cm tall and 10-40 cm in diameter.Ribs: 25 to 50 ribs deeply incised between the tubercles, which are approx. 2 cm long.Spines: Radials are hard to tell from the central spines. Each areole bears approx 4 to 15 spines ranging from slender to thick, conical with a wider base, and irregular in length, the longest up to 8 cm or more. They are flexible and curved upward, and those on new parts of the plant have occasionally a hooked tip. Their colour varies from yellowish to brown when young but later grey.Flowers: Lateral or basal, 7-10 cm. long, funnel-shaped, and have a slender, curved tube covered with long white hairs. Perianth segments are short white but c