Xerophyte

Description

Tunilla erectocladaSN|3724]]SN|3738]] is a low-growing ground covers miniature prickly pear. It is densely branched, prostrate and forms large clumps or mats. It only grows about 2 pads high (less than 10 cm tall), growth is mostly sideways.

Stem Segments

about 6 cm long, flattened, narrow, triangular to tongue shaped, light green or blue-green, somewhat tuberculate erect in young growth then creeping.

Flowers

Extremely vivid orange to carmine red. Pericarpels elongate, tuberculate, bristly.

Taxonomic Notes

The species is recognized as a provisional taxon by Hunt et al. (2006). Expert R. Kiesling does not recognize it as a good species but as part of Tunilla corrugataSN|3738]]SN|3724]] and argues that T. erectoclada was described from cultivated plants and its origin is unknown and it holds the characters of T. corrugata.

Spines

4-7 white needle-like, frail, 4-10 mm long, bent backward and lying next to the surface or spreading

Fruits

Fleshy but thin walled splitting open laterally at maturity.

Areoles

Numerous, very closely set (up to 140 per segment) dull creamy white to brown.