Leaves, stems and fruit
The plant produces fibrous roots, cylindrical segments and needle-like spines. Its leaves are relatively large and persist longer than the small, quickly shed leaves of many Tephrocactus. Strong segment connections support the branched plant. [Las Peñas et al. 2019]
Flowers are red or orange. Fruit is fleshy and does not open at maturity. The tissue surrounding the seed forms a compact, rounded covering. The combination of these traits places the species close to T. nigrispinus. [Las Peñas et al. 2019, appendix 1]
Relationships and name
In the chloroplast tree, the two species formed a shared group. The result was compared with morphology and cytogenetics, and POWO now accepts the combination Tephrocactus verschaffeltii (Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii in older literature). The species has a separate record and is not part of Austrocylindropuntia in this classification. [Las Peñas et al. 2019] [2-WWW]
The material studied in 2019 was reported with 2n = 22. The authors also cited an earlier report of 2n = 44. The discrepancy may reflect variation in the material, so a single number is not treated as the sole identifying trait of the entire species. [Las Peñas et al. 2019, table 2 and discussion]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Austrocylindropuntia haematacantha · Austrocylindropuntia hypsophila · Austrocylindropuntia inarmata · Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii · Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii var. hypsophila · Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii var. longispina · Banfiopuntia verschaffeltii · Cylindropuntia haematacantha · Cylindropuntia hypsophila · Cylindropuntia verschaffeltii · Cylindropuntia verschaffeltii f. longispina · Opuntia digitalis · Opuntia hypsophila · Opuntia posnanskyana · Opuntia teres · Opuntia verschaffeltii · Opuntia verschaffeltii var. floribunda · Opuntia verschaffeltii var. hypsophila · Opuntia verschaffeltii var. longispina [2-WWW]