Summary ¹⁰

Austrocylindropuntia subulata is a species of cactus native to the Peruvian Andes.

Description ¹¹

Austrocylindropuntia subulata can reach heights up to 4 meters, with numerous branches. The elongated, slightly brittle branches are up to 50 centimeters long. The stems are marked by rhomboid to ovate bumps in a few spiral rows. At the tip of each bump is the areole, from which grow one to four straight, grayish-white spines up to 8 centimeters long. The awl-like rudimentary leaves are up to 12 centimeters long.

The red flowers are up to 6 centimeters long. The long, warty hypanthium is covered by rudimentary leaves up to 2 centimeters long. The fruit are ovoid or club-like and sometimes thorny. They are up to 10 centimeters long.

Distribution ¹¹

Austrocylindropuntia subulata probably comes from the Peruvian Andes, where it is common at altitudes above 3000 meters. Today it has been naturalised in Argentina and Bolivia. It has been introduced in the Mediterranean basin to form impassable hedges, but it has become invasive in coastal provinces and some in the Iberian interior. It is also invasive in Australia, and it is illegal to be sold or distributed in the country under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Lies Van Rompaey, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/liesvanrompaey/49223551803/
2. (c) David Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Renoult
3. (c) Martin Lowry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Martin Lowry
4. (c) Mayli Hayes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Mayli Hayes
5. (c) Jiri Hodecek, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jiri Hodecek
6. (c) paddeladdi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by paddeladdi
7. (c) Lies Van Rompaey, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/liesvanrompaey/49224027441/
8. (c) Lies Van Rompaey, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/liesvanrompaey/49223558608/
9. (c) Lies Van Rompaey, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/liesvanrompaey/14391939986/
10. Adapted by Jeny Davis from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrocylindropuntia_subulata
11. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrocylindropuntia_subulata

More Info

• iNat taxon page
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