Tephrocactus verschaffeltiiwas first described in 1898 asOpuntia verschaffeltii .
Tephrocactus verschaffeltii(Cels ex F.A.C.Weber ) D.R.Hunt & Ritz
Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii , Banfiopuntia verschaffeltii , Cylindropuntia verschaffeltii , Opuntia verschaffeltii
In habitat, Chicoana, Salta, Argentina. Photo byguyrufray. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
class : CactaceaeSubfamily : OpuntioideaeTribe : TephrocacteaeGenus : Tephrocactus
The specific name " verschaffeltii " ( pronounced ver - shaf - FELT - ee - middle ) honorsAmbroise Colette Alexandre Verschaffelt(1825 - 1886 ) , a distinguished Belgian plantsman and writer .
Tephrocactus verschaffeltiiis native to the eminent - elevation grasslands ofBoliviaand northwesternArgentina(Jujuy , Salta , Tucumán , and Catamarca ) , where it develop in barren , rocky soil .
In habitat, Chuquisaca, Bolivia. Derivative of a photo byNaturalist Tours. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
Tephrocactus verschaffeltii , formerly roll in the hay asAustrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii , is ashrubbycactus with ellipsoid to cylindrical , slightlytuberculatestem segments that can be either spinless or with up to 7 spine perareole .
In the plants ' nativehabitat , the stem segment can grow from 0.4 to 4 in ( 1 to 10 curium ) tenacious and 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) , often heavily branch toward their tips , producing numerous spherical sideshoots . However , they can reach up to 12 inches ( 30 cm ) in cultivation . The root word segments are gullible , slightlyglaucous , and can take on attractive red and brown hue when expose to full sun . The yellow spines can be straight or curve and vary from bristle - the like to needle - like , measuring from 0.4 to 2.4 in ( 1 to 6 cm ) long . Sometimes , the pricker are absent , and the yellow - felted areoles bear only a few whiteglochids . The awl - like underlying leaves are unripe with red tips and can grow up to 1.2 inches ( 3 cm ) long .
The flowers are orange - red to cryptic red , amount about 1.6 inches ( 4 cm ) long and 1.4 inch ( 3.5 curium ) in diam , and appear at the tips of the higher - up prow segments in summer . Thepericarpelis greenish and shape like a reversed cone , with a few areoles . The spinless fruits are ellipsoidal to pear - work and stop numerous brown seeds .
In habitat, Valle Grande, Jujuy, Argentina. Derivative of a photo byprofeceliz. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
illumination : Tephrocactus verschaffeltiithrives in full sun , but some spectre during midday and afternoon can keep sunburn during summertime . A window that receives sunshine 6 hours a day work best when grown indoors .
Soil : This cactus need a soil mix that drains well . So , utilize a commercial-grade cactus potting intermixture orcreate your own .
Temperature : Extremely liberal of high temperature , Tephrocactus verschaffeltiiprefers cool temperature in wintertime . It grows best inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones9a to 11b , with average minimum wintertime temperatures ranging from 20 to 50 ° F ( -6.7 to 10 ° C ) .
In habitat, Tafí del Valle Department, Tucumán, Argentina. Derivative of a photo byRobert Bader. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
lacrimation : From spring to diminish , water moderately and get the filth dry out completely before watering again . In most areas , rain will be enough for established works . If pot , never let the container sit in water . During the wintertime , suspend thewatering .
Fertilizing : Tephrocactus verschaffeltiidoes not ask fertilizer when planted in the ground . However , when grown in a container , the plant will gain from water - soluble fertilizer during the grow season . set aside the eating during the wintertime when it move dormant .
Repotting : Repot only when the cactus becomes rootbound or is too large and unstable in its container . take a slightly larger container with drain holes at the bottom . The best sentence for repotting is belated winter or early outflow .
Propagation : you could propagateTephrocactus verschaffeltiiby stem segments or seed . Using stem segments is the easy method and yields fast upshot . For best results , take stem segments in early summer . Sow the come in recent outpouring .
see more atHow to Grow and Care for Opuntia .
Tephrocactus verschaffeltiiis not toxic to humans or pets . However , keep the plant away from darling and kid as it has harmful pricker and glochids that may cause skin irritation .
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