Tephrocactus alexanderiwas first describe in 1923 asOpuntia alexanderi .
Tephrocactus alexanderi(Britton & Rose ) Backeb .
Opuntia alexanderi , Tephrocactus alexanderisubsp.alexanderi
In habitat, Capital Department, La Rioja, Argentina. Derivative of a photo byMartin Lowry. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
Family : CactaceaeSubfamily : OpuntioideaeTribe : TephrocacteaeGenus : Tephrocactus
The specific epithet " alexanderi(pronounced al - eks - AN - der - ee ) " honorsEdward J. Alexander(1901 - 1985 ) , an American plant scientist and conservator of the herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden .
Tephrocactus alexanderiis aboriginal toArgentina . It arise on jumpy slopes in the Catamarca , La Rioja , San Juan , and San Luis provinces .
In habitat, Fiambala, Catamarca, Argentina. Derivative of a photo byMariana. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
Tephrocactus alexanderiis a pocket-sized , shrubbycactuswith numerous abstemious - green or ash-grey , spherical base segments with rhomboid , spirally arrangedtubercles . The fragile stem segments can reach 2 inches ( 5 cm ) in diameter . Theareolesat the top of the tubercles are gray and round , each bear 4 to 14 vertebral column and many pinkish - yellowglochidsin the pith . One to six spines are transparent , appressed , measure up to 0.8 inch ( 2 cm ) long , while the others are stronger , straight to slightly curved , whitened to gray or blue , measuring up to 1.6 inches ( 4 centimetre ) long .
During the summertime , Tephrocactus alexanderiproduces big , white to pink flowers at the peak of the higher - up root section . The peak can reach a diameter of 2.8 column inch ( 7 cm ) . Thepericarpelis green , form like a rescind strobilus , obtusely cover with spines and glochids , measuring up to 0.4 ( 2 curium ) tenacious and 0.6 inch ( 1.5 cm ) in diameter . The fruit are spiny , obovoid , ash - green , and contain many light brown seeds . They can grow up to 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) long and 0.6 inches ( 1.5 atomic number 96 ) in diameter .
Light Within : Tephrocactus alexanderithrives in full sun , but some subtlety during midday and good afternoon can forestall sunburn during summer . A window that receives sun 6 hours a day work intimately when grown indoors .
In cultivation, Madrid, Spain. Photo by Emilio Martínez. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Soil : This cactus requires a soil admixture that run out well . So , use a commercial cactus potting mixing orcreate your own .
Temperature : exceedingly tolerant of high temperature , Tephrocactus alexanderiprefers cool temperatures in wintertime . It grows serious inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones9a to 11b , with average minimal winter temperatures ranging from 20 to 50 ° degree Fahrenheit ( -6.7 to 10 ° C ) .
lacrimation : From spring to descend , body of water pretty and permit the grease dry out totally before watering again . In most area , rainfall will be enough for established plant life . If potted , never lease the container sit down in water . During the winter , suspend thewatering .
In habitat, Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina. Derivative of a photo byaacocucci. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
fertilise : Tephrocactus alexanderidoes not need fertilizer when constitute in the ground . However , when mature in a container , the plant will profit from piss - soluble fertilizer during the growing season . freeze the feeding during the winter when it goes dormant .
Repotting : Repot only when the cactus becomes rootbound or is too prominent and unstable in its container . Choose a slimly larger container with drain holes at the bottom . The best time for repotting is late wintertime or early leap .
extension : you may propagateTephrocactus alexanderiby stem segment or seeds . Using root segments is the easiest method acting and give way faster results . For best event , take base segments in other summer . Sow the seeded player in former spring .
memorize more atHow to produce and Care for Opuntia .
Tephrocactus alexanderiis not toxic to homo or pets . However , keep the plant away from pets and minor as it has harmful spines and glochids that may cause pelt soreness .
sink in on a pic to see a enceinte interlingual rendition .
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