Xerophyte

Leaves

Up to 7 mm long, persistent, fusiform to club-shaped. In habitat the leaves are almost entirely hidden in the hair, but usually noticeably exerted above the hairs in cultivation,.

Taxonomy

Genetic analysis revealed that AustrocylindrSN'>4105' alt='4171'>Opuntia floccosa#SN#4106'>Austrocylindr[[Opuntia floccosaSN' style='border

Note

The epithet “lagopus” comes from the Greek “lagôs”

Flowers

Diurnal, golden yellow, barely emerging from bristles at anthesis, 1,5-3(-4.5) cm long; pericarpels hairy towards the tip.

Spines

One, yellow, 2-2.5 cm long.

Stem

Segmented, articles short cylindrical, to 15-25(-45) cm long, sometimes shorter and globose, tuberculate. The stems are so densely hairy and conceiled that probably do not have any photosynthesis role, which is indeed supported by the leaves.

Fruits

Egg-shaped, thin-walled, at first bright green and then yellow to light pink at maturity containing 5-10.

Areoles

Filled with fibrous, uniseriate (formed by a single row of cells, so very thin and Silky) creamy-yellowish hairs to 2 cm long; glochids sparse, hidden, white or glassy, remaining hidden, easily detached and blown away by wind, 1-1.5 cm long.