Austrocylindropuntia floccosa is a wool-covered cactus native to high-altitude regions of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia, thriving at elevations between 9,800 and 14,800 feet, where it endures cold nights, intense sunlight, and seasonal drought. This species forms dense, low-spreading clumps that can blanket the ground, with cylindrical stems cloaked in a thick layer of long, white, wool-like hairs that help protect it from temperature extremes and reduce water loss by shading the surface from direct sun. The hairs also help shield the plant from frost damage in the páramo and puna ecosystems it inhabits. During its flowering season, it produces small, tubular, bright orange to red blossoms near the tips of its stems. Its fruits are edible and have been traditionally used by local communities as food for humans and livestock. Photographed in Peru.