Austrocylindropuntia floccosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Austrocylindropuntia floccosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Austrocylindropuntia
Species:	A. floccosa
Binomial name
Austrocylindropuntia floccosa (Salm-Dyck) F.Ritter
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Austrocylindropuntia floccosa, also known as waraqu, is a type of cactus. The name waraqu comes from the Aymara and Quechua languages, where it simply means "cactus." You can find this special plant growing in the high plains of northern Peru and Bolivia.

How People Use Waraqu

People in the Andes mountains have found many ways to use the waraqu cactus. It's a very helpful plant for them.

Making Living Fences

One important use for waraqu is to create natural fences. People grow these cacti very close together in a line. As they grow, they form a thick, living wall. These "living fences" help to mark property lines or keep animals in (or out) of certain areas. They are a natural and strong way to build boundaries.

Eating the Fruit

The Austrocylindropuntia floccosa cactus also produces a fruit. This fruit is edible, meaning it is safe for people to eat. It provides a source of food for the local communities where the cactus grows.

See also

In Spanish: Austrocylindropuntia floccosa para niños