Cumulopuntia corotilla

Endemic to southern Peru, this low-growing perennial cactus forms cushions of rounded, spiny stem segments. It grows in dry Andean habitats, including rocky ground and grasslands in Arequipa. Yellow flowers can fade to cream or pink as they wilt. In Peru, flowering occurs during the dry season, from August to October, and fruits develop from November to February. Wasps and beetles visit the flowers. Its succulent stems store water in a seasonally dry environment. Photographed in Ecuador.