Tephrocactus molinensis

Relative of the Opuntia Family

The Tephrocactus contains 5 species that are relatives of the Opuntias, and often included in that genus. The genus name "Tephrocactus" derives from the Greek adjective “tephros” meaning “ash coloured” plus the connective vowel “o” used in botanical Latin for Greek words , and the word “cactus” (an old genus name). The genus name implies: “ash coloured cactus”.
The name "molinensis" comes from "Los Molinos", name of the original location of Argentina (Salta, Los Molinos) from the high elevation in the Andes mountains, and are generally frost resistant. The habitat it grows in is often an open area among the wide spread Trichocereus pasacana. Small clumping segmented succulent, in cultivation grows as small erect segment chains. In habitat the plants stay smaller because the uppermost segments are detachable and drop easily. At the end of the dry season the cladodes are very dehydrated and plants retract almost at soil level. There is also a red form. The plant above is in a 3" pot.