There are many mighty midgets in this group, and in fascinating variety. They’re mostly round, from squat to columnar, but all are primly neat. The spines may be soft or not, but are always arranged in a perfect pattern. The flowers are not overlarge, but are arranged in a crown and ripen into attractive, berry-like fruit.
bocasana—powder puff—Soft, white-woolly globes, only one and a half inches across when mature; beige flowers.
elongata—golden lace—Small branching pillar, nicknamed for its tatted pattern of bright-yellow spines.
hahniana—old lady—Fond name for a small, white-haired cushion.
Notocactus Cactaceae Ball Cactus
Plump balls with prettily colored spines and large, showy flowers in late spring.
apricus—sun cup—Golden-yellow flowers, Oxford-gray spines.
graessneri—Butter-yellow spines and flowers.
ottonis—Indian head—Reddish spines.
rutilans—Rosy flowers.