Syn.: Cylindropuntia subulata (Muehlenpf.) F. M. Knuth, Opuntia subulata (Muehlenpf.) Engelm., Pereskia subulata Muehlenpf., Pereskiopsis subulata (Muehlenpf.) Britton et Rose ex Rose
Family: Cactaceae Juss.

Austrocylindropuntia subulata

Distribution: Mountain areas of southern Peru and western Bolivia. It is also grown in climatically suitable areas of the world as a decorative plant (e.g. South Australia, Spain).

Ecology: It grows in semi-arid to arid areas, on rocky slopes of mountain valleys, at altitudes from 2000 up to 4000 m.

Austrocylindropuntia subulata

Description: Shrub or small cactus tree, up to 3(–4) m tall. Stem erect, branched, divided into cylindrical segments that are up to 10 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. Spines 1–4 per areole, light yellow, up to 8 cm long, without papery sheaths, glochids short. The flowers appear on the terminal part of the branches, 5–10 cm in diameter, tepals orange-red. The fruits are ovoid, up to 10 cm long, green.

Usage: It is cultivated in Europe as a houseplant, its cultivation is easy.

Threat and protection: Like all species of the family Cactaceae, this species is included under the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Note: This South American genus is related to the North American genus Cylindropuntia.

Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Austrocylindropuntia subulata

These images were taken in Peru, Pisac (by Jindřiška Vančurová, September 4, 2008).