Argentina & Chile November 2008 - Day 10 - Uquia to La Quia

Post by **David_L** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:43 pm

I just found a single clump of this interesting Opuntioid which I have written down as Maihueniopsis boliviana v. inermis, which I think simply means 'without spines'.

[attachment 18291 Maihuen_boliviana_inermis.jpg]

Post by **David_L** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:46 pm

Likewise I only found one clump of this plant which I have as Tephrocactus hypogea. I'm aware these names may be controversial.
[attachment 18292 Tephrocactus_hypogea.jpg]

Post by **David_L** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:48 pm

Willy was of the opinion that this plant is Maihueniopsis nigrispina. There's another small Maihueniopsis type plant at about 5 o'clock from the nigrispina. Don't know what this is, maybe boliviana?

[attachment 18293 Maihueniopsis_nigrispina.jpg]

Post by **David_L** » Wed May 13, 2009 4:50 pm

This one also.

[attachment 18294 Maihueniopsis_nigrispina5.jpg]

Post by **David_L** » Wed May 13, 2009 5:01 pm

However there were a number of similar plants in flower here with spine colours in shades of brown, somewhat weaker spines and flower colours varying from reddish through to orangey yellow. Willy suggested that nigrispina should have red flowers and that the infusion of yellow could be coming from hybridisation with a yellow flowered Maihueniopsis such as ferocior which grew side by side. Anyway here are some photos of these plants. This is a reddish flowered one with long gingery spines.

[attachment 18295 Maihueniopsis_nigrispina2.jpg]