old-man cactus

[ ohld-man ]

noun

1. a Mexican cactus, Cephalocereus senilis, having a columnar body from 30 to 40 feet (9 to 12 meters) high with thatchlike, long, white hairs on the top, and red flowers with white centers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of old-man cactus¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The Old Man Cactus is a popular plant for rock gardens and is found in many homes both in this country and abroad.

From Project Gutenberg