Xerophyte

Seeds

Corky.

Description

Tephrocactus articulatusSN|7330]]SN|7330]] var. diadematus, generally included within (as a synonym of)(Tephrocactus articulatusSN|7330]]SN|7330]]), is a succulent upright shrublet, up to 60 cm tall, 1.2 m spread. The 'inermis' form of this species is a nearly spineless form with no spines and without (or with very few) glochids on the new growth. These usually fall off as it ages.

Flowers

Yellowish-white fading to pink.

Blooming Season

Spring.

Spines

The typical Tephrocactus articulatusSN|7330]]SN|7330]] var. diadematus has flattened papery spines 2 to 5(-10) cm long and numerous reddish-brown glochids, both absent in the forma 'inermis' ( but a few caduceus glochids are sometime present in the youngest areoles)

Stem

It produces dull greyish-blue, greyish-brown to earth-tone coloured pine-cone-like globular to elongated stem segments 2 to 20 cm long, the segment are hardly tuberculate (except in drying) and generally grow longer and narrower than the standard Tephrocactus articulatusSN|7330]]SN|7330]]. The segments usually grow one or two new segments each year from the stem tips.

Fruits

Globose, 1 to 1,5 cm long, dry.

Areoles

Large