Stem variation
In the broad treatment, the species includes forms with globose, ovoid and more elongated segments. The 2019 paper distinguished the varieties articulatus, oligacanthus and strobiliformis, among others. These names refer to a particular division of variation in the publication. The current profile includes them within the accepted species T. articulatus. [Las Peñas et al. 2019] [2-WWW]
Segments connect through narrow sections that break easily. Spines may be strongly flattened, but their form and presence depend on the plant. Leaves are shed quickly. Flowers have a pale perianth, and fruit dries and opens at maturity. The tissue surrounding the seed is corky. [Las Peñas et al. 2019]
Many chromosome sets
In the 2019 paper's cytogenetic table, the material studied from the varieties articulatus and oligacanthus had 2n = 88, while the variety strobiliformis had 2n = 77. With a basic number of x = 11, these correspond to eight and seven sets. Variety identifications and specimen numbers help retain the scope of these findings. [Las Peñas et al. 2019, Table 2]
Such marked variation in chromosome number occurs alongside easy propagation through segments. Producing new plants from stem fragments preserves a genotype independently of regular seed formation. The cytogenetic analysis considered the significance of clonal propagation for the genus studied. [Las Peñas et al. 2019]
Movement and new sites
In this species, easy segment detachment provides a route for clonal propagation. Water transport mechanics were studied in detail in the related T. aoracanthus. The results and scope of that experiment are described in a separate article on rainfall runoff. [Las Peñas et al. 2019] [Almirón et al. 2019]
Outside its native range, the species has become naturalised in South Africa, among other places. A 2024 paper compared the results of treatments to reduce its populations at 16 sites. The published abstract describes variable effectiveness and a model of potential habitats. This is a separate context for the ecology of a plant introduced outside its natural range. [Mokotjomela et al. 2024]
Cultivation in archival material
The archival review of Tephrocactus cultivation describes dry dormancy at temperatures no higher than 10°C and propagation by rooting detached segments. The author notes that severe drying may increase segment shedding. The recommendations concern the group discussed, with no defined minimum temperature or separately determined rooting percentage for this species. The retained earlier archival profile includes references to pages in the material. [Kaktusy i Inne 2005c, p. pliku 2–4]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Cereus articulatus · Cereus polymorphus · Cereus syringscanthus · Opuntia andicola · Opuntia andicola var. fulvispina · Opuntia articulata · Opuntia calva · Opuntia diademata · Opuntia diademata f. calva · Opuntia diademata var. calva · Opuntia diademata var. inermis · Opuntia diademata var. oligacantha · Opuntia diademata var. polyacantha · Opuntia glomerata f. papyracantha · Opuntia glomerata var. calva · Opuntia glomerata var. inermis · Opuntia glomerata var. polycantha · Opuntia papyracantha · Opuntia polymorpha · Opuntia strobiliformis · Opuntia syringacantha · Opuntia turpinii · Opuntia turpinii var. polymorpha · Tephrocactus andicola · Tephrocactus articulatus f. papyracanthus · Tephrocactus articulatus f. syringacanthus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. calvus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. diadematus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. inermis · Tephrocactus articulatus var. oligacanthus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. polyacanthus · Tephrocactus articulatus var. syringacanthus · Tephrocactus calvus · Tephrocactus diadematus · Tephrocactus diadematus var. calvus · Tephrocactus glomeratus var. andicola · Tephrocactus glomeratus var. fulvispinus · Tephrocactus glomeratus var. inermis · Tephrocactus inermis · Tephrocactus strobiliformis · Tephrocactus turpinii [2-WWW]