Description and images of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito , Puskaye , Perrito), a native Chilean plant, provided by the supplier of native exotic Chilean seeds, Chileflora.com

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito / Puskaye / Perrito). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica

IV Region, Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas, Chile
Altitude: 300 - 400 m. 10 27, 2007

Species:	Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Förster) E.F.Anderson
Family:	Cactaceae
Order:	Caryophyllales
Chilean Name:	Gatito , Puskaye , Perrito
English Name:
German Name:
Russian Name:

Record:	0484
	About 4 Cumulopuntia in Chile and 3 in our data base.
	About 164 Cactaceae in Chile and 67 in our data base.




	Native Frequent Height: 20 cm. Good ornamental value (A)

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Here you can buy the seeds of this species.

INTRODUCTION

This cactus is one of the most common in Chile. It grows almost everywhere, from the seaside to relatively high elevations (up to 2000 m.). It is a rather small plant, which may grow to about 15 cm. consisting of several oval-shaped sections of 3 - 5 cm., but when it blooms, the flower may be larger than the plant itself and is very showy with its yellow - orange color. This cactus is very easy to propagate, and once you can obtain adult plants from seeds you can continue to propagate it vegetatively by planting new sections. It never grows very big, because when it reaches a heigth of 3 - 4 sections, the upper section tends to fall off, roll down the slope and start a new colony.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito / Puskaye / Perrito). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica

III Region, Carrizal Bajo - Totoralillo, Chile
Altitude: 100-160 m. 09 18, 2006

DESCRIPTION

Plant type: Cactus

Flower: Yellow, 7 - 14 petals

Height: 20 cm.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito / Puskaye / Perrito). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica

III Region, Buena Aventura (Cerca de Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe), Chile
Altitude: 400 m. 09 17, 2006

HABITAT

In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:

Habitat according to altitude:

High altitude close to the timber line
Medium altitude up to the timber line
Low altitude, interior valleys
Coastal mountains, 500 - 2000 m.
Coastal areas, 0 - 500 m

Watering conditions:

Coastal fog/camanchaca: The plants obtain water mainly from condensation.
Extremely dry areas with very rare rainfall. The dry season lasts 8 - 12 months and in some years it is possible to have no rainfall at all. Rainfall less than 100 mm/year.
Dry, arid areas, with long drought periods of 6 - 10 months. Precipitations of 100 mm - 300 mm. are concentrated in winter.
Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3 - 5 months. Precipitations of 400 - 800 mm. are concentrated in winter.

Light conditions:

Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north.
Exposed, but with protection from direct sun through coastal fog (camanchaca).

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito / Puskaye / Perrito). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica

III Region, Buena Aventura (Cerca de Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe), Chile
Altitude: 400 m. 09 17, 2006

USES

Good ornamental value (A)

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica (Gatito / Puskaye / Perrito). Click to enlarge parts of image.

Image of Cumulopuntia sphaerica

III Region, Buena Aventura (Cerca de Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe), Chile
Altitude: 400 m. 09 17, 2006

GROWING TIPS

This species has the following hardiness:

USDA Hardiness Zone 9. The plant does not tolerate snow, but can tolerate occasional freezing spells of about - 5° C (the typical morning frost of central Chile).