Xerophyte

种子

Ovoid, brownish red.

描述

这是一种细长、基部多分枝的匍匐或附生仙人掌，作为室内盆栽植物已栽培近300年。它是现代收藏和家庭种植中最受欢迎的仙人掌之一。‘鼠尾’（Rat's Tail）开花非常自由，其细长的茎上会开出大量深红至粉红色的花朵，非常适合用作垂吊植物。较大的植株尤为壮观，茎条从花盆中倾泻而下，宛如瀑布一般。据说它应居于易于栽培的仙人掌品种之首。

备注

该物种也存在缀化形态。

花

Diurnal, borne laterally, red to purplish-pink usually 5-8(-10) cm long, 2,5-4(-7,5) cm wide, double-sided, symmetrical (zygomorphic) instead of perfectly regular and similar to that of the Christmas cactus Zygocactus truncatusSN|2950]]SN|2950]]), limb bilaterally symmetric, upcurved and slightly oblique, open for 3-5 days, scentless. Pericarpel almost straight greenish with acute bracteoles; receptacle 3 cm, long, curved just above pericarpel, bracteoles, brownish, acute; outer tepals linear-lanceolate, ± reflexed, 2-3 cm long, 6 mm wide, crimson; inner tepals narrowly oblong, to 10 mm wide, crimson, sometimes passing to pink along the margins; stamens white to pale pink, erect, excerted; style stigma lobes 5-7, white

花期

春季中期至晚期开花，每朵花可持续开放数天。

刺

9-14(-20), tiny, acicular, bristle-like, reddish brown or reddish yellow, 4-5(-10) mm long.

棱

7–12条，钝圆而不明显，边缘略呈瘤状突起。

茎

细长，藤状，柔弱，初时直立或斜升，很快变为平卧或下垂（或攀援），新鲜时为鲜绿色，后转为灰绿色，圆柱形，直径约1–2厘米，长度可达1.5(–2)米甚至更长，横截面圆形。

果实

Globose, 10-12 mm long, 10 mm in diameter, red bristly, pulp yellowish.

刺座

极小，白色，密集排列，相距4–8毫米。