Tephrocactus floccosus mound cactus with white hairs in Huascaran National Park, Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Tephrocactus floccosus (or T. rauhii) is a mounding cactus found widespread from central-Northern Peru to Bolivia in the Andean High Plateau. This alpine cactus forms colonies of 60 cm diameter and larger, in a mat covered with yellow spines and a profusion of long, soft, whitish/grey hairy glochids. Its flower petals are orange-red (or yellow) with yellow centre. The edible fruits are yellowish when unripe and orange when ripe. The anti-inflammatory fruits can help reduce swelling when applied on contusions. This photo is from Tuctubamba Valley below Tupatupa Pass, in the Cordillera Blanca, Andes Mountains, Peru, South America. Day 4 of 10 days trekking around Alpamayo in Huascaran National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

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Filename: 14PER-0910_Tephrocactus-floccosus-cactus.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 6000x4000 / 8.4MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Peru Plantae South America plants
Contained in galleries: 2014 Jun 19-Jul 6 PERU: Alpamayo trek, PERU: Alpamayo trek, Cord. Blanca 2014

Tephrocactus floccosus (or T. rauhii) is a mounding cactus found widespread from central-Northern Peru to Bolivia in the Andean High Plateau. This alpine cactus forms colonies of 60 cm diameter and larger, in a mat covered with yellow spines and a profusion of long, soft, whitish/grey hairy glochids. Its flower petals are orange-red (or yellow) with yellow centre. The edible fruits are yellowish when unripe and orange when ripe. The anti-inflammatory fruits can help reduce swelling when applied on contusions. This photo is from Tuctubamba Valley below Tupatupa Pass, in the Cordillera Blanca, Andes Mountains, Peru, South America. Day 4 of 10 days trekking around Alpamayo in Huascaran National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).