Xerophyte

Habit

Austrocylindropuntia floccosaSN|4113]]SN|4105]] is a groundcover cactus that forms thousand-head colonies or compact cushions of up to 60 (and over) cm of diameter. This plant is covered with a dense, long-woolly felt of white hair and yellow spines from which emerge bright yellow flowers.

Leaves

Rudimental, awl shaped, dark green, fairly persistent, to 7 mm long.

Description

Austrocylindropuntia lagopus f. rauhiiSN|4105]]SN|4113]] is one of the morphological or local forms of Austrocylindropuntia floccosaSN|4105]]SN|4105]], and the two plants are not readily distinguishable, if not for the geographical provenance. More likely they are one and the same species.

Stem Segments

Short cylindrical, sometimes ellipsoidal to subglobose, up to15 cm long, 6 cm in diameter, spirally tuberculate.

Flowers

Up to 3 cm long, petals orange-red (or yellow) with yellow centre; pericarpelswith areoles above, spineless.

Glochids

Long, hairy, soft, sinuous, entangled or straight, sometimes absent and whitish/grey.

Spines

Occasionally 2 or more numerous yellow, erect approx. 2 cm long.

Fruits

Truncate globose, sometimes with tubercles, yellowish when unripe, sugary/orange when ripen and slightly hairy.

Areoles

Borne high on tubercle shoulders.