Austrocylindropuntia subulata

Austrocylindropuntia subulata is a species of cactus native to the Peruvian Andes. The Latin specific epithet subulata means "awl-like", referring to the shape of the rudimentary leaves. It is also known by its common names as Eve's pin and Eve's needle.

Description
Austrocylindropuntia subulata can reach heights up to 4 m, with numerous branches. The elongated, slightly brittle branches are up to 50 cm long. The stems are marked by rhomboid to ovate bumps in a few spiral rows. At the tip of each bump is the areole, from which grow one to four straight, grayish-white spines up to 8 cm long. The awl-like rudimentary leaves are up to 12 cm long.

The orangy-pink flowers are up to 6 cm long. The long, warty hypanthium is covered by rudimentary leaves up to 2 cm long. The fruit are ovoid or club-like and sometimes thorny. They are up to 10 cm long.

Distribution
A. subulata probably comes from the Peruvian Andes, where it is common at altitudes above 3000 m. Today it has been naturalised in Argentina and Bolivia. It has been introduced in the Mediterranean basin to form impassable hedges, but it has become invasive in coastal provinces and some in the Iberian interior. It is also invasive in Australia, and is a declared Weed of National Significance.

Classification
The first description as Pereskia subulata took place in 1845 by Friedrich Mühlenpfordt. Curt Backeberg classified it in the genus Austrocylindropuntia in 1942.