Cactaceae

Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica

Common Names: Coral cactus

Plant Form: Upright succulent shrub. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Dark bluish-green, cylindrical, fleshy, branching. Covered in white 1 cm long spines. Leaves: Up to 1 cm long. Short lived. Flowers: Pink or red, up to 6 cm across. Cup-shaped. Fruit and Seeds: Deep green or greenish-yellow egg to urn-shaped, up to 4.5 cm long. Habitat: Grasslands, shrublands, woodlands. Distinguishing Features: Can be very similar to Eve’s needle cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) but is generally smaller with shorter spines. It may also be mistaken for other cacti.