Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus . . .

Cereusly · Post by **Cereusly** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:14 am

. . . starting new growth after a three year wait. Cereusly, Tony

Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:19 am

Three years!?

I probably would have piched it over the fence long ago.

Cereusly · Post by **Cereusly** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:25 am

Don't know why it took this long. It had no roots when the cutting was given to me, but thee year was a test of my patience. Cereusly, it was!

promethean_spark · Post by **promethean_spark** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:15 am

That's really slow, mine gets pads knocked off all the time and the only ones that haven't grown new pads yet were from last summer. The spines on yours are superior though, it may be a less prolific cultivar.

amanzed · Post by **amanzed** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:21 am

Truly exceptional spines!

phil_SK · Post by **phil_SK** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:00 am

I think that might be T. aoracanthus rather than T. articulatus.

That would fit with the slower growth you describe, too.

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:48 pm

wow, what an incredible plant!

peterb

iann · Post by **iann** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:24 pm

phil_SK wrote:I think that might be T. aoracanthus rather than T. articulatus. That would fit with the slower growth you describe, too.

I was thinking the same thing.

Post by **daiv** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:10 pm

You guys have me thinking now. I did not know that T. aoracanthus had flat (papery) spines too. Maybe because most people like me assume that papery spines indicate articulatus???

iann · Post by **iann** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:08 pm

T. aoracanthus spines are thinner and stiffer and darker (and more of them?), but still flattened and bendy. The bodies are also subtly different.

New growth produced at this time of year is not ideal because it won't mature properly. Maybe you can persuade it to ripen over winter in California, or maybe it will pick up again in spring, but you might be left with a stunted little pad.

Ken Shaw · Post by **Ken Shaw** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 6:31 pm

Yow! Scary pictures! The pups are bursting out like something from "Alien!"

amanzed · Post by **amanzed** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:45 am

I'm guessing there must be different types of Tephrocactus aoracanthus, then? Because mine (ex Caro Desert Nursery) does not have flattened spines at all... they're more like double-length toothpicks. Definitely not "papyracanth-y"

psi · Post by **psi** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:34 pm

I wonder if I have a T. aoracanthus too, growth seems fairly slow and the spines are somewhat dark. I tried grafting a pup to pereskiosis at one point but no luck there.

iann · Post by **iann** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:34 pm

amanzed wrote:I'm guessing there must be different types of Tephrocactus aoracanthus, then? Because mine (ex Caro Desert Nursery) does not have flattened spines at all... they're more like double-length toothpicks. Definitely not "papyracanth-y"

There is Tehprocactus aoracanthus with toothpick spines. I don't know if they get a variety name or not. Mine is var pediophilus which has particularly long flattened spines which look soft but are quite stiff, sharp at the end and serrated along the edges. Here is a closeup of a new pad with some older spines.

amanzed · Post by **amanzed** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 12:27 am

Hi Ian! Thanks for that... that is some amazing spination. I figured there must be multiple types. I don't think my plant was labeled with a subspecies or var, alas. It seems T aoracanthus is calling me to further study.

Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus . . .

Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus . . .

Wow

truly exceptional spines

T articulatus vs aoracanthus

Re: T articulatus vs aoracanthus

Ahh, interesting T aoracanthus!