Maihueniopsis

Morphological Summary

Maihueniopsis is a genus in the subfamily Opuntioideae comprising around 30 species of cushion-forming, creeping, or shrubby cacti distributed mainly in the Andes and arid zones of southern South America: Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. They are related to Opuntia but distinguished by their short cylindrical to globose stems, strong spines, and adaptation to extreme altitudes (up to 5 000 m) and cold, xeric climates. Many species form dense pads covering large expanses of arid Andean and Patagonian terrain. They are tough cacti highly resistant to drought, snow, and frost. The genus was segregated from Opuntia by Ritter and later circumscribed by R. Kiesling. Notable is Maihueniopsis darwinii, collected by Charles Darwin during the voyage of HMS Beagle in 1833 in Patagonia, making it one of the first South American cacti studied by Western science. Several species are of great interest for alpine gardens and Andean cactus collections.