Xerophyte

Description

Austrocactus longicarpus is a peculiar species distinguished by very long, narrow fruits that don't open at maturity from a basal pore, but split open by a lateral crack. The flowers are borne near the tips of the stem and show peculiar traits. They are narrowly funnel-shaped with pink tepals, while the style and pistil are white or very pale pink, conversely all the other Austrocactus with pink flowers always have a purple style and pistil (occasionally flowers takes a honey yellow colouration). The spines are also very impressive, dense, stout, sword-shaped, curved or straight, amber to brown, sometimes reddish. The plants found in the upper part of the range (1400 m a.s.l.) often shows darker epidermis and spines, but all other features are the same.