Tephrocactus articulatus

Tephrocactus articulatus is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae of the plant family Cactaceae. They usually grow branches up to one foot tall with white flowers. Propagation is usually through cuttings. Stem segments easily break away and will root without special treatment. Plants may also be grown from seeds. Spring blooms open at end-of-evening nautical twilight, and close shortly after sunrise.

Tephrocactus articulatus
Tephrocactus articulatus of the inermis variety.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Tephrocactus
Species:	T. articulatus
Binomial name
Tephrocactus articulatus (Pfeiff.) Backeb.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Cereus articulatus Pfeiff. Cereus polymorphus C.F.Först. Cereus syringscanthus Pfeiff. Opuntia andicola var. fulvispina Lem. Opuntia andicola Pfeiff. Opuntia articulata (Pfeiff.) D.R.Hunt Opuntia articulata Otto Opuntia calva Lem. Opuntia diademata var. calva (Lem.) F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum. Opuntia diademata var. inermis Speg. Opuntia diademata var. oligacantha Speg. Opuntia diademata var. polyacantha Speg. Opuntia diademata Lem. Opuntia glomerata var. calva (Lem.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia glomerata var. inermis (Speg.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia glomerata var. polycantha (Speg.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia glomerata f. papyracantha (Phil.) Castell. Opuntia papyracantha K.Schum. Opuntia papyracantha Phil. Opuntia polymorpha Pfeiff. Opuntia strobiliformis A.Berger Opuntia syringacantha (Pfeiff.) C.F.Först. Opuntia turpinii var. polymorpha Salm-Dyck Opuntia turpinii Lem. Tephrocactus andicola (Pfeiff.) Lem. Tephrocactus articulatus var. calvus (Lem.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. diadematus (Lem.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. inermis (Speg.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. oligacanthus (Speg.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus (Phil.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. polyacanthus (Speg.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus var. syringacanthus (Pfeiff.) Backeb. Tephrocactus articulatus f. papyracanthus (Phil.) Guiggi & Verloove Tephrocactus articulatus f. syringacanthus (Pfeiff.) F.Ritter Tephrocactus calvus (Lem.) Lem. Tephrocactus diadematus var. calvus (Lem.) Backeb., C.Backeberg & F.M.Knuth Tephrocactus diadematus (Lem.) Lem. Tephrocactus glomeratus var. andicola (Pfeiff.) Backeb. Tephrocactus glomeratus var. fulvispinus (Lem.) Backeb. Tephrocactus glomeratus var. inermis Speg. Tephrocactus inermis (Speg.) Backeb. Tephrocactus neoglomeratus var. andicola (Pfeiff.) Y.Itô Tephrocactus neoglomeratus var. fulvispinus (Lem.) Y.Itô Tephrocactus strobiliformis (A.Berger) Backeb., C.Backeberg & F.M.Knuth Tephrocactus turpinii (Lem.) Lem.

They originate in Argentina, but are cultivated in outdoor landscaping in warm desert climates such as Phoenix, Arizona.

Varieties have been recognized, including var. inermis (spruce cone cactus) and var. papyracanthus (paper spine cholla cactus), but none are accepted by Plants of the World Online.[1]