Description: The genus name is derived from the ancient Greek city named Opous. The species name Articulata means nodding. It refers to the nodes of the fleshy stems of this species which are nodular in shape. The varietal name Diadematus is crowned, referring to this variety with long papery spines for decoration. The English name is Paper cactus or Paper spined pear. The original species is Musashino. Musashino is native to the slopes of the Andes in central Argentina over 4,000 metres above sea level, where the sun is strong, the wind is high and the air is dry. The soil is shallow and infertile. The annual precipitation is less than 300 mm with chilly weather. The Opuntia articulata vat．Didematus is a low mat-forming plant. The fleshy stems are segmented, with oblong, undivided, grey-green or grey-brown nodes. The spiny base is brown glochidiate, with 1-3 spines (the original species has no spines), papery, white or brown, 3-10 cm long and 0.6 cm wide. Flowers white to pink, but less often in cultivation. It is very different from other cacti, with a small, distinctive plant that is relatively hardy.