Tephrocactus floccosus (rauhii) Janahuanca-Alcacocha Peru in  Cordillera Central, near Cerro de Pasco.
From the photo-DVD by Zoltán Varga Hungary.
Botanical expedition in Peru in the autumn of 2005. This DVD is orderable at e-mail address: vargaz@piszkenet.hu
 

A form with orange flower. Oyon 4120 m, Peru
(Photo by Zoltán Varga)

A rare crested specimen.

Description:  Mat forming cactus, forms colonies of up to 60 (and over) cm of diameter. Segments 15 cm long, 6 cm in diameter. Long; soft and whitish/grey hairy glochids ; occasionally 2 or more numerous yellow spines and awl shaped leaves, up to 0.7 cm;
The flowers petals are orange-red (or yellow) with yellow centre, up to 3 cm long
Fruits are yellowish when unripe and sugary/orange when ripen. They are eatable and when they are applied on contusions help to reduce the swelling (Anti-inflammatory).

Taxon synonyms: 

• Tephrocactus rahui
• Opuntia rauhi
• Austrocylindropuntia lagopus fa. rauhii
• Austrocylindropuntia floccosa
• Opuntia floccosa
• Opuntia floccosa var. crassior
• Opuntia floccosa var. ovoides
• Tephrocactus floccosus
• Tephrocactus floccosus subvar. Aurescens
• Tephrocactus floccosus var. crassior
• Tephrocactus floccosus var. cylindraceus
• Tephrocactus floccosus var. flavicomus
• Tephrocactus floccosus var. ovoides
• Maihueniopsis floccosa 
• Tephrocactus atroviridis 
• Tephrocactus atroviridis var. longicylindricus
• Tephrocactus atroviridis var. parviflorus
• Tephrocactus atroviridis var. paucispinus
• Opuntia atroviridis 
• Tephrocactus udonis
• Tephrocactus udonis
• Opuntia verticosa 
• Tephrocactus verticosus
• Austrocylindropuntia tephrocactoides
• Cylindropuntia tephrocactoides
• Opuntia tephrocactoides
• Tephrocactus crispicrinitus
• Tephrocactus crispicrinitus var. cylindraceus
• Opuntia crispicrinita
• Opuntia crispicrinita var. cylindracea
• Tephrocactus cylindrolanatus
• Opuntia cylindrolanata
• Austrocylindropuntia lauliacoana
• Austrocylindropuntia machacana
• Tephrocactus pseudo-udonis
• Tephrocactus pseudo-udonis
• Opuntia pseudo-udonis
• Austrocylindropuntia machacana
• Opuntia floccosa var. rauhii

Family: Cactaceae
Scientific Name: Tephrocactus rauhii (Salm-Dyck ex Winterfeld) Backeb. 1935

Origin: Tephrocactus floccosus (T. rahuii) is found widespread from central-Northern Peru to Bolivia in the Andean High Plateau
Habitat: This plant grows in dry valleys, rocky slopes and among bushes in high elevation tropical alpine habitats. This region has a marked dry season and overnight temperatures that drop often below 0°C ( to -15° C ). The typical form of T. floccosus in central Peru has a dense covering of long hairs that protect from freezing temperatures, comparisons in habitat with 'hairless' forms showed that the hairy type maintain an epidermal temperature several degrees higher during the night.

e-mail address: vargaz@piszkenet.hu
T. floccosus grows almost on the ground and forms large woolly-haired compact cushions.
The hummingbird is pollinating!
 

 T. rauhii (floccosus) KK 393, Huancayo, Junin, Peru, Altitude: 4000m
 (in cultivation)

Cultivation:  Not easy, because of the mountain environment in which the plants live, they need as much direct sun light as possible to encourage the heaviest spines an wool formation, plants in shaded positions grows etiolated and fail to produce the typical hairy covering. They need to be kept in a cool place during the winter rest (at 0 to -10°C) this is important for the flowers as well as for their health.

They are quite winter hardy and can be cultivated outdoor, if adequately protected from the rain and kept perfectly dry.  Needs good drainage, water sparingly  (rot prone).

Propagation: Cuttings, seeds.