I was curious to know if you might be able to ID this cactus (image attached, apologies for quality of picture). I have done a bit of research and hav...
Knowledgebase
Cactus Identification #409178
Asked June 22, 2017, 8:46 PM EDT
I was curious to know if you might be able to ID this cactus (image attached, apologies for quality of picture). I have done a bit of research and have come to a dead end. It's not a rat tail--lighter green, and each delicate spine fans out into several little spines like a dandelion seed. The diameter for each "stem" is about 1 cm. If you have any info I would so appreciate it!!
Kings CountyNew York
Expert Response
Hello,
This may be Aporocactus flagelliformis (Rat's tail cactus). This is an epiphytic cactus, with long trailing stems resembling rats tails. It will produce tubular bright pink flowers in spring and summer. A positive id can only be made with the plant in flower. Flowers are rare but when they arrive they are a glorious bright pink to red hue. Blooms are up to 3 inches long, tube-shaped and arise on mature stems. Rat tail cactus houseplants require bright light even during their dormant period. These plants grow moderately in a warm room with low humidity. Most gardeners will find care for rat tail cactus minimal. Keep the plant away from drafty areas and dry between watering.
Thanks for looking over this -- do you have any other ideas on what it could be? I do know that it is definitely not a rat's tail -- each "stem" is thicker and lighter colored than any rat's tail I've seen, and it has different spines (they fan out like a dandelion seed at the end--see photo). It has a softer, fuzzier appearance, and the "stems" don't taper like a rat's tail. Many thanks again!
This is a great additional photo, thank you. it is a beautiful cactus. Cleistocactus winteri has this non-tapered form you refer to. There are many variations in appearance among the population but some have the whitish fuzzy look of yours.
