	Tephrocactus molinensis (Syn: Opuntia molinensis)	CACTUS ART NURSERY Cultivation and Mail Sale of Cacti and Succulents.

Areoles with yellow-brown glochids and white felt .
White blooms with a greener throat.

Etymology: The genus name "Tephrocactus" derives from the Greek adjective “tephros (τεφρος)” 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 species name "molinensis" comes from "Los Molinos", name of the original location from which the species is native.

The articles are spineless glaucous.

Morphology (Identifying Characteristics): Small clumping segmented succulent, In cultivation grows as a small erect segment chains. In habitat the plants stay smaller because the uppermost segments are detachable and drop easily.
Areoles : Very ornamental with bright yellow-brown glochids and white felt.
Spines: Spineless.
Flower: Dirty white or very pale pink a little hyaline with a green centre and green filaments. Pericarp is comparatively small and has areoles furnished with bristle-like spines as strong as the one on the young shoots.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Tephrocactus molinensis:

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Scientific Name: Tephrocactus molinensis (Speg.) Backeb. 1953

Type: Exsiccata: “Opuntia schumannii-Tephrocactus molinensis” (LPS 14335). Lectotype designated by Kiesling (1984a: 230, as type). Corp.
Basionym: Opuntia molinensis Spegazini. Published in: Anales Soc. Ci. Argent. 96: 63. 1923,
nom. nov. prop. Opuntia schumannii Speg. in Anales Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires 11 (ser. 3, 4): 511. 1905, nom illeg. (non F. A. C. Weber).
Protologue: “Hab. Semel abunde prope Molinos, Prov. Salta”. Photographs: LP: without data. Later, Spegazzini (1925: 102) published this photograph, although he did not mention if it corresponds to the type.
Obs.: Spegazzini (1923) created a new name: “Opuntia molinensis Speg. (nom. nov.) = O. Schumanni Speg. (non Web.), Cactacearum platensium tentamen, nº 106”, since the name Opuntia schumanni was already created by Weber in 1904.

Synonyms:

Opuntia glomerata andicola

Opuntia molinensis

Maihueniopsis molinensis]

Distribution: Argentina (Salta, Los Molinos)

Habitat: Grows a open area among wide spread Trichocereus pasacana.
Notes: At the end of the dry season the cladodes are very dehidrated and plants retract almost at soil level.

The abundant guttation from the areoles at the base of hypanthium at anthesis, a phenomenon common among most Tephrocacti

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