Xerophyte

Habit

Cumulopuntia bolivianaSN|4047]]SN|4047]] is a cushion-forming cactus native to high elevation deserts around 4000 m in the Andes. It forms large mounds up to 100 cm in diameter.

Leaves

Minute and ephemeral.

Seeds

3 x 2 mm testa, shinning, very hard, aril with prominent annular rim.

Description

Cumulopuntia bolivianaSN|4047]]SN|4047]] WG086 (Cumulopuntia bolivianaSN|4047]]SN|4047]] v inermis ? ) is an almost spineless local or morphological form of this widespread species. Though plants without or with very few spines are somewhat rare, however nude specimens occurs naturally throughout its range, and can be encountered in many cultivated specimens. In cultivation it seem a bit tricky, not usually flowering.

Roots

It has a thick napiform root.

Stem Segments

Elongate to ovoid, light green, tuberculate apically, 3.5-7 cm long 3,5-4 cm in diameter.

Tubercles

At first well delimited, later only dimly discernible, mostly on upper portions of segments.

Flowers

Yellow (rarely orange, pink or red), to 4-5,5 cm long, 5-6 cm in diameter; pericarpels bristly above. Tepals small spatulate more or less mucronate. Outer tepals pale yellow or slightly tinged with red. Stamens sensitive. Filaments are light yellow anthers of the same colour. Style light yellow. Stigma lobes 7-8, paler, whitish or greenish.

Spines

Usually absent or very few only on the uppermost areoles near the segment tips, erect or somewhat spreading, straight, rounded or slightly compressed yellow to reddish brown, becoming grey with age.

Fruits

Usually nearly spherical and truncated, fleshy, green to yellow, mostly spineless but sometimes with a few flexible bristles approximately 20 mm long.

Areoles

About 15, near the segment tips, rounded, about 4 mm across, bearing a ring of brownish yellow glochids, with a small white or yellowish woolly centre. Basal areoles spineless.