Austrocylindropuntia subulata

Austrocylindropuntia subulata can reach heights up to , with numerous branches. The elongated, slightly brittle branches are up to 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 long. The awl-like rudimentary leaves are up to long. The orangy-pink flowers are up to long. The long, warty hypanthium is covered by rudimentary leaves up to long. The fruit are ovoid or club-like and sometimes thorny. They are up to long. ==Distribution==

A. subulata probably comes from the Peruvian Andes, where it is common at altitudes above . 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 is a declared Weed of National Significance. == Classification ==

The first description as Pereskia subulata took place in 1845 by Friedrich Mühlenpfordt. Curt Backeberg classified it in the genus Austrocylindropuntia in 1942. == References ==

Yaiza_Playa_Blanca_-_Calle_La_Calera_-_Austrocylindropuntia_subulata_02_ies.jpg Haría_-_Calle_del_Palmeral-LZ-10_-_Austrocylindropuntia_subulata_01_ies.jpg Astrocylidropuntia subulata pm.jpg 2805 cactus.jpg Austrocylindropuntia subulata0.jpg Opuntia1.JPG Austrocylindropuntia_subulata_kz1.JPG Austrocylindropuntia subulata (8408906339).jpg Austrocylindropuntia subulata 01.JPG Austrocylindropuntia subulata var. exaltata (8409006777).jpg