''Austrocylindropuntia subulata'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...

native to the

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

vian

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

. The Latin

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''subulata'' means "awl-like", referring to the shape of the rudimentary leaves. It is also known by its

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s as Eve's pin and Eve's needle.

Description

''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 In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cacti out of which grow clusters of spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. Gordon Rowley - W ...

, 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 In angiosperms, a hypanthium or floral cup is a structure where basal portions of the calyx, the corolla, and the stamens form a cup-shaped tube. It is sometimes called a floral tube, a term that is also used for corolla tube and calyx tube. It ...

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 Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

and

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

. It has been introduced in the

Mediterranean basin In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and w ...

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 Curt Backeberg (2 August 1894 in Lüneburg, Germany – 14 January 1966) was a German horticulturist especially known for the collection and classification of cacti. Biography He travelled extensively through Central and South America, and publis ...

classified it in the genus ''

Austrocylindropuntia ''Austrocylindropuntia'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae) with 11 recognized species, which were once included in the genus ''Opuntia''. Some are native to South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisph ...

'' in 1942.

References

Image gallery

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 {{Taxonbar, from=Q783868 Opuntioideae Cacti of South America