Austrocylindropuntia

Erect spreading loosely-branched shrubs or rarely cushion-like or small trees to 5 m high. Stems cylindrical, with indefinite growth, sometimes divided into segments. Stem-segments (cladodes) cylindrical to somewhat clavate, distinctly tuberculate; tubercles elongate to ovate-rhomboid, slightly raised and rib-like, sometimes mamillate, firmly attached. Leaves restricted to young developing stems and on young hypanthia, rudimentary, caducous, terete, more or less subulate; areoles invested with glochids (few, scattered, white to pale yellow), spines, and hairs; spines 1–10, acicular or subulate, smooth, lacking a papery sheath. Flowers usually solitary, sessile, lateral or terminal, bisexual, regular; perianth caducous, segments numerous, spreading to erect, virtually free, inserted on hypanthium apex, deciduous; sepaloids forming a distinctive red-pink cap at bud stage; petaloids pink to red, erect or slightly spreading; stamens numerous, inserted in numerous rows; style thick, with 5 stigmas; ovary inferior, immersed within hypanthium. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent, with glochidiate areoles and sometimes spines, solitary or forming short chains of up to 4 by proliferation; seeds subglobular to irregularly angular, , with smooth to slightly rugose funicular envelopes covered with fine hairs, and a rudimentary funicular girdle.