Kaibab Pincushion Cactus

Origin: USA (northern Arizona) in Pinyon Juniper Woodland

Growth Habits: Solitary, small green globose stem, 1.2 to 1.6 inches tall (3-4 cm) (usually half is underground), 2.4-3.2 inches (6-8 cm) in diameter; tubercles; tap root up to 6 inches (15 cm) long; 3 to 6 central spines long, flexible and hairlike, white to ashy gray to straw colored, obscuring stem apex, 1-1.3 inches (25-32 mm) long; 13-22 radial spines.

Blooming Habits:
Flowers 0.8-1 in. (2-2.5 cm) diameter to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long; petaloids are white or yellowish with pink midribs. Fruit greenish-yellow becoming tan when ripe, 7.5-10.5 mm (0.3-0.42 in.) long, 4.5-6.0 mm (0.18-0.24 in.) diameter. Fruit is smooth and bare except for the veins; sometimes fruit will have minute subapical scales. Seeds are nearly black, 1.5 mm (0.06 in.) long, about 2.0 mm (0.08 in.) broad and 1.0 mm (0.04 in.) thick (Benson, 1982, quoted in AZ Game and Fish Heritage data Management System 2003 ).