Tephrocactus articulatus is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae of the plant family Cactaceae.

Its most notable feature are its needles or spines which, if present, are flat and resemble parchment.

Spring blooms open at end-of-evening nautical twilight, and close shortly after sunrise.

They originate in Argentina, but are cultivated in outdoor landscaping in warm desert climates such as Phoenix, Arizona.

papyracanthus (paper spine cholla cactus), but none are accepted by Plants of the World Online.