Publication: Lobivia 3: 140. 1977
Description
Echinopsis ancistrophora subs. cardenasiana often listed under its old name of Lobivia cardenasiana is a solitary or clustering species with magenta flowers. it belongs to the Echinopsis ancistrophora group.
Stem: Flattened to spherical, up to 8 cm in diameter, dark green with ribs weakly notched.
Central spine: Usually one (or rarely more) straight to almost hooked, whitish-brow and dark-tipped.
Radial spines: Curved backward, creamy coloured up to 1,5 cm long.
Flowers: Diurnal, unscented, borne laterally near the base of the body, very showy, long-tubed 8-12 cm long and up to 7 cm in diameter, with bright magenta petals sometime with greenish-white throat
Blooming season: Flowers are freely produced from June onwards and remain open for only one day.
Fruit: Oblong, green to purplish, somewhat dry.
Origin and Habitat
Bolivia (Eastern Tarija).
Altitude: 2250-3150 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: It grows in rocky outcrops among grass, mostly on South East facing slopes together with Rebutia heliosa v. cajasensis.
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinopsis ancistrophora is a good beginner cactus and very easy to grow and flower. It is quite resistant and occasionally gets covered by bright showy yellow blossoms also neglected in a dry windowsill. Requires good drainage and very porous potting mix. Watering Needs Need regular water in spring to fall but do not water again until dry. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and require very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months.
Frost Tolerance: Light frost protection required. Minimum of 5ºC for safe growing (but hardy up to -5°C or less) but some clones are hardy to lower temperatures. Requires to be kept below 7°C in winter to flower well in the spring.
Sun Exposure: Requires bright light (protect from strong midday sun). In shade the body colour will remain mostly green, while full sun will darken it and give it red/brown body colour. Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly. The amount of sunlight it can withstand without scorching depends upon the how hot it becomes in the summer in the locale in which it is planted. It will have more colour if it receives more light. During the spring it may be able to take full sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade.
Propagation: Seeds or offsets that appear at the base; leave them attached to form a cluster, or wait until they are 1/3 the size of the parent and then detach and plant.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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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/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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