I am not a professional nor an expert in Cactacea or Opuntioideae taxonomy. Any help with ID and spelling are always welcome. To up-date my list I've been using many books, journals, catalogs and other web-sites. It's been helpful, but I have more work to do. I only ship to the main 48 States. I do offer 72+ hour heat packs for $3.00 each. Please read the front page for ordering information.
Note: These plants may be hard to ship without them breaking at a joint. If that happens the broking stem can be root to make a new plant.
Cumulopuntia
boliviana ssp. dactylifera -
Cumulopuntia boliviana is
a cushion-forming cactus densely armed with golden brown spines, native to high
elevation deserts around 4000 m in the Andes. It forms large mounds up to 100 cm
in diameter. Cumulopuntia
boliviana comprises
several local or morphological forms that differ slightly in appearance from
place to place throughout its range. In cultivation it seem a bit tricky, not
developing the dense spines and not usually flowering. Four subspecies are
recognized, the typical form (subsp. boliviana),
subsp. dactylifera (Vaupel).
D.R.Hunt, subsp. echinacea (F.Ritter)
D.R.Hunt, subsp. ignescens (Vaupel)
D.R.Hunt (Hunt et al. 2006). The complex is often assessed as a single species.
Flowers are yellow,
rarely orange, pink or red. Chile, Argentina, Peru. Growing in 3 inch pots. - @ $10.00 each
Cumulopuntia leucophaea -
Also found as Cumulopuntia sphaerica is
a most common species widespread in a wide area from the seaside to high
elevations close to the timber line, in somewhat dry areas where the drought may
last 3 to 5 months. It grows almost everywhere in many different habitat both on
flat terrain and slopes generally at not very high altitudes but higher in more
northern (tropical) part of the range where it can be found well above the 3000
metres. In both mesic, arid and very arid environments with rainfall ranging
from a maximum of 800 mm per annum to less than 100 mm per annum, and in some
years it is possible to have no rainfall at all, but with protection from direct
sun through coastal fog (camanchaca). The species thrives in areas fully exposed
to the sun, both in level areas and slopes facing north. Cumulopuntia
sphaerica is
extremely abundant. It is an invasive species, and its population is increasing.
This species is not utilized.South America, from central Chile
Growing in a 3 1/2 inch pot. - @ $10.00
Grusonia moelleri - Also found as Opuntia moelleri.
Forms short clumps. Flowers are light yellow.
Chihuahua, Mexico and USA. Growing in 3 inch pots. @ $10.00 each
Mailueniopsis glomeratus ssp. atrospinosus -
Maihueniopsis
glomerata (copana
cactus) is a small cactus species forming low, spreading, strong-jointed,
hemispheric clumps. It is a smaller and sometimes less spiny version of Maihueniopsis
darwinii,
with oval to elongated, egg-shaped stems either erect or prostrate. Throughout
its natural range there is considerable variation in segment size, spine colour,
spine count per areola etc. such that this species is now to be found under
numerous, ill-defined varietal names in cultivation, but these all seem to be
forms of this very variable species. Maihueniopsis
glomerata resembles
some forms of Opuntia
fragilis in
the shape and size of the joints or stems. It also has the ability to spread
itself when loosely attached joints break away from the main plant and root
wherever they land. It is interesting that O.
fragilis has
one of the most northern ranges in the cactus family, while M.
glomerata has
one of the most southern, being from Patagonia at the southern end of South
America. It reproduces by seed and vegetatively by detachment of joints or
portions of the plant, which can take root and establish themselves as
independent individuals. Light yellow flowers. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile.
Growing in a 3 inch pots. @ $10.00 each
Opuntia basilaris crest - This
is a smaller prickly pear, branching upwards to 30cm (60 cm) high in clumps up
to 90cm (1.2 m) in diameter.They are intensely rose purple with deep magenta-red
filaments and white or pink style, stigma is white. (yellow blooming plant are
also know).Beaver tail cactus occurs in Arizona, southern Utah, southern Nevada,
southern California, north western Mexico (northern Baja California and northern
Sonora) From the ridge crest area of Sonora, Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
Growing in 4 1/2 pots. -
Sold Out
Opuntia chaffeyi -
Small annual succulent stems on large rhizome that can become a really cool pot
full in time, segments up to 6 inches long (15 cm) in cultivation, much shorter
in the wild. Flowers yellowish
white, over 1 inch. Mexico - Growing in 4 1/2" x 4" pots. - left to right
- #2, #3, @ $13.00 each #1, #4 Sold
Opuntia parryi ssp. serpentina crest - Southern California - Growing in a 6 inch pot. - #1 @ $18.00
Opuntia ramosissima spineless form -This
unusual Diamond Cholla is spineless! The pencil-stemmed, blue-gray stems have
diamond shaped patterns and yellow flowers. It stands 3-4 ft high and 2" wide.
NW Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona. - Growing in 4 1/2 inch pots. - @ $15.00 each
Opuntia rufida -
Very round thin pad form. Opuntia rufida is
relatively common in Texas, and Adjacent Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila,
Durango and Zacatecas . Growing in 6 inch pots. - #1, #2, $3 @ $15.00 each
Opuntia sulphurea -
Is
a low and spreading or erect shrub, forming broad clumps 1 to 2 meters in
diameter, 30-40 cm high. The joints are conspicuously tuberculate. The spines
are very dense and stiff, whitish at first, but somewhat yellowish, horncolored,
brownish to red in age. Several varieties of this species, some of which have
been described, are given, such as laevior, major, minor, and pallidior.
Three subspecies are recognized, the nominate, Subsp. brachyacantha and
Subsp. spinibarbis. All have sulphur yellow flowers, hence the specific name.
Spines are
1 to 8, acicular, stiff, thick, generally straight but sometimes curved and
twisted, spreading, 3 to 10 cm long, yellowish, brownish, red or grey, but
sometimes quite pale (white and pink) at first.
Flowers are about
4 cm. long, yellow.
Stems are joints
flattened, oblong to obovate, (8-)12 to 25(-30) cm long, , 3-7 cm wide, thick,
strongly tuberculate, glabrous, usually green but sometimes purplish; terminal
joints easily detached. Dose best in full sun.
Growing in 6" inch pots.
- left to right - #1, #2 @ $30.00 each
Puna bonnieae DJF319 -
Also known as
Maihueniopsis bonnieae,
best known in cultivation as Puna
bonnieae,
is a small geophytic opuntioid that looks like a small Tephrocactus
geometricus,
but the bloom, fruit and the seeds clearly show its autonomous nature. During
the dry season they are hidden in the ground. It forms slowly small cushion up
to 15 cm in diameter. Flower are light pink to pinkish. Argentina, Bolivia.
Growing in 3 inch pots.
Sold Out
Puna clavariodes -
Also known as Maihueniopsis clavarioides,
more commonly known as Puna
clavarioides or Opuntia
clavarioides,
is a low growing geophyte cactus consisting of clusters of subterranean greyish
brown conical or club-shaped stems, arising from large, swollen roots. In the
wild it grows with just the tops of the stems exposed above ground. In
cultivation this plant takes on a much different character than its wild
brethren. To grow the plant like it is in habitat we would need to start out
with a seed and a deep pot, since this strange and wonderful plant does
something few cactido: when the seed germinates it throws down a root first
thing, and when the root gets deep enough it begins to make a tuber to store
water for hard times. (Life in habitat is hard all the time). The part of the
root above the tuber becomes what is called the neck, which connects the deep,
tuberous roots to the aboveground heads of the plant. Several new cone-shaped
stems emerge and grow each year from the top of the neck. At summer's end the
underground parts of the plant contract, and since the stems cannot enter the
soil, they break off, shrivel and get blown away.
Flowers are light yellow. Had to laugh at these common names: Dead man's
fingers, Mushroom opuntia.
Argentina. Growing in 3 inch pots. - @
$10.00 each
Puna subterranea -
Also known as
Maihueniopsis
subterranea.
Small plant geophytic opuntioid cacti with very tuberous root which in remains
half buried in habitat, showing approximately 1 cm. from the ground. Plants have
usually few segments (up to 6). But at the northern localities this species can
grow with dozends of segments. The form "incahuasii" with greener and thinner
stems forms large clumps with more than 100 heads. This species is very variable
and there are many forms of Puna subterranea. It looks like a small
Tephrocactus, but the bloom, fruit and the seeds clearly show its autonomous
nature. The flower colour ranges from brown to deep rose red to a pale yellowish
rose and rare, but possible with almost white. Pericarpels without areoles but
with a few scales bearing hairs and long bristles in the axils. Argentina,
Bolivia. Growing in a 3 1/2 inch pot.
Sold
Puna subterranea -
Also known as
Maihueniopsis
subterranea.
Small plant geophytic opuntioid cacti with very tuberous root which in remains
half buried in habitat, showing approximately 1 cm. from the ground. Plants have
usually few segments (up to 6). But at the northern localities this species can
grow with dozends of segments. The form "incahuasii" with greener and thinner
stems forms large clumps with more than 100 heads. This species is very variable
and there are many forms of Puna subterranea. It looks like a small
Tephrocactus, but the bloom, fruit and the seeds clearly show its autonomous
nature. The flower colour ranges from brown to deep rose red to a pale yellowish
rose and rare, but possible with almost white. Pericarpels without areoles but
with a few scales bearing hairs and long bristles in the axils. Argentina,
Bolivia. Growing in 3 inch pots. - @ $13.00
Tephrocactus alexanderi ssp. bruchii - Tephrocactus
alexanderi var. bruchii is
generally included within (as a synonym of) Tephrocactus
alexanderi,
suggesting that there is not really a fundamental difference between the two,
and hard to name accurately without knowing where they come from, and there
remains a considerable confusion surrounding the true identity of this this
plant. Tephrocactus
alexanderi var. bruchii has
roundish joints the size of a tennis ball, dark spreading-spines and beautiful
white flowers, sometimes a well-defined pink-blue tint. The seeds are quite
characteristic about 5,9-8.5 x 5.6 to 7.1 mm yellowish-white, sponge-like,
highly irregular in shape and gnarled. Seeds vary considerably in size. However
the distinguishing characteristics of var. bruchii ,
appear to fall within the natural variation of Tephrocactus
alexanderi.
Most authors have dismissed Tephrocactus
alexanderi var. bruchii as
perhaps not worthy of even varietal status, but it still has a value for a
collector because they identify plants with particular characters.
Argentina. Growing in a 6 inch pot.
Sold
Tephrocactus alexanderi - This one has a dry scar at the base.
Tephrocactus alexanderi is
a small low depressed or erect succulent plant with some spherical branches
forming spiny cushions. It is found in the provinces of La Rioja and Salta,
Argentina. Growing in a 4
1/2 inch. - #2 @ $20.00
Tephrocactus aoracanthus -
Tephrocactus aoracanthus is
one of the most hazardous species with fierce, wonderful spines. The spines are
very stiff and stick out to every thing that enter in contact with them, this
way the stems segment spread around in the environment.
Plants erect that will form clumps with some branching with age, 30-100 cm high
and 1-3 metres in diameter, but usually couldn’t get very tall as segment kept
falling apart.
Flowers are large,
white to light pink. Argentina. Growing in a 6 inch pot. - #1 @ $35.00
Tephrocactus aoracanthus -
Tephrocactus aoracanthus is
one of the most hazardous species with fierce, wonderful spines. The spines are
very stiff and stick out to every thing that enter in contact with them, this
way the stems segment spread around in the environment.
Plants erect that will form clumps with some branching with age, 30-100 cm high
and 1-3 metres in diameter, but usually couldn’t get very tall as segment kept
falling apart.
Flowers are large,
white to light pink. Argentina. Growing in 4 1/2 pots. - front &
back photos - left to right - #1, #2 @ $25.00 each
Tephrocactus aoracanthus ssp. paediophilus -
Tephrocactus aoracanthus var. paediophilus is
an extraordinary variety that shows wonderful spines to as much as 30 cm long
(the longest in the genus Tephrocactus). These spines are papery but still sharp
enough to molest anything that gets near it! The spines are stiff and stick out
to every thing that enter in contact with them, this way the stems segment
spread around in the environment. Delicate alabaster white flowers are rarely
produced. Large, white to light pink flowers. Argentina. Growing in a 3 1/2 inch
pot.
Sold
Tephrocactus curvispinus - Also found it with this name Tephrocactus recurvata.
Haven't found no information about the plant just the name with photos of the
plant. Growing in a 3 inch pot. - Sold
Tephrocactus darwinia ssp. hickenii -
Also found as
Maihueniopsis darwinii var. hickenii is
a very decorative variety distinguished from var. darwinii for
the more numerous, broader, flatter, somewhat flexible and showier, spines, but
it is much slower growing. The spines are are more numerous on the upper half of
the egg-shaped stems. It make low, thick mats or mounds that appear to be quite
small above ground. The flowers are yellowish orange about 2.5 cm wide.
Argentina and Chile. Growing in 3 1/2 pots. - left to right - #1, #2 @ $13.00
each
Tephrocactus darwinia ssp. hickenii -
Also found as
Maihueniopsis darwinii var. hickenii is
a very decorative variety distinguished from var. darwinii for
the more numerous, broader, flatter, somewhat flexible and showier, spines, but
it is much slower growing. The spines are are more numerous on the upper half of
the egg-shaped stems. It make low, thick mats or mounds that appear to be quite
small above ground. The flowers are yellowish orange about 2.5 cm wide.
Argentina and Chile. Growing in 3 pots. - @
$10.00 each
Tephrocactus molinensis red spine form -
It is a small segmented succulent that grows into mounds of tiny stems or
joints. In cultivation grows as a small erect segment chains. In habitat the
plants stay smaller because the uppermost segments are detachable and drop
easily. It is related to Tephrocactus
articulatus and
reminds some spineless forms of it. Flowers dirty white or very pale pink.
Argentina. Growing in in 3 inch pots. - @ $10.00
each
Tephrocactus strobiformis - Also found as
Tephrocactus articulatus var. strobiliformis.
Segmented succulent slowly growing up to up to 30 cm. Small pine-cone shaped
that are loosely attached to each other and fall easily.The white flowers made a
nice contrast to the earth-tone colours of the plant. Western Argentina. Growing
in 3 inch pots. @ $10.00 each
Tephrocactus weberi white spine form -
It is a small shrubby species branching both basally and above that will
eventually develop into a moderately large, open clump up to 20 cm tall and will
reward the patient gardener with a display of yellow. It is quite variable.
Flowers bright lemon yellow or golden yellow. Central and Northern Argentina.
Growing in 3 1/2 inch pot.
Sold
Tephrocactus weberi white spine form -
It is a small shrubby species branching both basally and above that will
eventually develop into a moderately large, open clump up to 20 cm tall and will
reward the patient gardener with a display of yellow. It is quite variable.
Flowers bright lemon yellow or golden yellow. Central and Northern Argentina.
Growing in 3 inch pot. - @ $10.00 each