Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus

Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus

Family: Cactaceae
Common Name: paper spine cactus
Origin: Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus originates within western Argentina. It is found in the provinces of Catamarca, Cordoba, La Rioja, Mendoza, Salta, San Luis, and Santiago del Estero, growing on the lower slopes of the Andes mountains.
Description: T. articulatus var. papyracanthus is a bushy cactus that develops vertically growing, pine-cone shaped segments, reaching up to 12 inches in height. The stems are silver, glaucous, or green in color – covered in a ring of glochids, and soft, flat spines that resemble raffia fibers. Although rare in cultivation, white, bell-shaped flowers with yellow centers may form during late spring to early summer, followed by brown fruits.

Interesting Features:
- The paper spine cactus possesses harmless spines – soft, flat, and papery in texture. These spines will differ amongst specimens, leading to the formation of many varieties.
Uses: Although no specific ethnobotanical uses are known, other species of Tephrocactus have been used as a diuretic, food coloring, and as water purifiers.
- While closely related cacti possess potentially hallucinogenic alkaloids, it has not been studied if the Tephrocactus genus does as well.

Cultivation and Care:

Watering: Low
- The paper spine cactus should be watered sparingly in both winter and summer, with less irrigation as light decreases.
- Water deeply, but allow soil to completely dry in between waterings.
Soil: T. articulatus var. papyracanthus requires well-draining cactus or succulent soil that has been supplemented with 70 to 80% sand, pumice, or perlite.
- Additionally, a neutral pH of 6.1 to 7.8 should be maintained.
Lighting: Provide as much full, direct sun as possible to prevent thin stems. If flowering is desired, and for the best growth, up to 10-12 hours of direct light should be provided daily.
Propagation: Propagation is possible through woody stem cuttings, segments, offsets, and seed, although flowering is difficult to achieve.
- The easiest method of propagation is either through offsets – which are readily produced by the parent plant – or through the segments, which easily root after being removed.
Cold Tolerance: 15° F, USDA hardiness zones 8b to 10b.
Special Accommodations: Care should be taken when handling, as the segments are very easily detached from the parent plant. For this reason, specimens often do not reach flowering height in cultivation.
- Additional concerns include root rot – avoid overwatering or watering cacti after repotting to prevent plant death.

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