Origin and Habitat: Maihuenia patagonicaSN|30848]]SN|30848]] occurs in Argentina (Chubut, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, La Pampa, and Santa Cruz provinces) and Chile (Chile Chico, Aisén).
Altitude range: It grows below1, 500 metres above sea level, most often from 0 to 600 metres.
Habitat and Ecology: It grows in dry exposed places in semi-desert, rocky plains, grasslands, arid steppe and subalpine regions of Patagonia.

• Maihuenia patagonica f. cristata hort.

• Maihuenia patagonica (Phil.) Britton & Rose
• Opuntia patagonica Phil.
• Maihuenia albolanata F.Ritter
• Maihuenia albolanata f. viridulispina F.Ritter
• Maihuenia andicola H.F.Comber
• Maihuenia brachydelphys K.Schum.
• Maihuenia cumulata F.Ritter
• Maihuenia latispina F.Ritter
• Maihuenia patagonica f. cristata hort.
• Maihuenia tehuelches Speg.
• Maihuenia valentini Speg.

Description: Maihuenia patagonicaSN|30848]]SN|30848]] is a low to strongly domed cushion-forming, densely spiny cactus, 20-40(-100) cm high and one to several metres across. The white or violet booms are produced at stems tips on short spur shoots.
Crested form: The crested form (Maihuenia patagonicaSN|30848]]SN|30848]] f. cristata) - despite to its beauty - is very rare and sought after by collectors. The cause of cresting is not fully explained; biologists disagree as to why some plant grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of lightning strike or freeze damage, but whatever the stimulus, the growth point of the stem has switched from a geometric point, to a line, which folds and undulates as the crest expands. Though these crested Neobuxbaumia are somewhat rare, cresting occurs naturally, and can be encountered in many other cactus species.
Stem: This specie has two cristate forms; one with a cristate central shoot, and another with cristate lateral spur shoot only, without main shoot.
Central shoot cristation: The cristation of the central stem is quite rare and very different looking from the cristation involving a lateral shoot. It forms a snaky fan-shaped ridge with normal cylindrical lateral shoots developed on it and develops in time a large cushion-like mass 12-15 cm high by up to 30 cm wide
Spur shoot type cristation: This cristation involve a fertile lateral spur shoot ending with an apical flower bud, sometimes it looks really red colour. It looks very different from the species and forms a thin flattened short living structure that dies when it blooms.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/ August /2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010
5) Kiesling, R., Faundez, L., Saldivia, P. & Walter, H.E. 2013. Maihuenia patagonica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 March 2015.
6) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: "The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family." volume 1, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1919
7) The Alpine Garden Society “Maihuenia patagonica” <http://encyclopaedia.alpinegardensociety.net> Web. 21 Mar. 2015.
8) Winterharde soortlijst “Maihuenia patagonica” <http://www.cactusinfo.nl> Web. 21 Mar. 2015.

Cultivation and Propagation: Maihuenia patagonicaSN|11620]]SN|30848]] is an easy-to-grow plant supposed to be quite cold-hardy in the central european climate but the high-altitude Maihuenia poeppigiiSN|30848]]SN|11620]] is probably more reliable. It can survive outside in the garden in the sunny rockery on a sheltered place, but only if it's protected with a sheet of glass during the wintertime.
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrous' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: The method employed for its propagation is by cuttings.