Airampoa ayrampo

This low-growing cactus spreads along the ground. Its creeping stems often develop roots at the edges of their segments. The segments are flattened and may be crescent-shaped with slight bumps; more rarely, they are nearly cylindrical. They can grow up to 6 cm long. Each segment has at least 60 closely spaced areoles. Most produce 5–8 needle-like spines, though there may be as few as 2 or as many as 12. The spines vary from thick to bristle-like, point in different directions, and can reach 7 cm long. They are usually yellowish to brown and occur on nearly all the areoles. Flower: The flowers may be yellow, orange, pink, or red and can reach 5.5 cm long. The flower’s outer base (pericarpel) bears areoles almost to its base, with the upper areoles appearing bristle-like. The fruit is dark red and grows up to 2.5 cm long. Its lower portion has no areoles, while the upper portion bears a few spines up to 2 cm long.

The species grows mainly in tropical montane habitats at elevations of 3,200–4,000 meters. It occurs in high-altitude scrubland and grassland, growing in sunny areas and taking shelter in the shade of nurse plants.