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Echinopsis ancistrophora subs. pojoensis (Rausch) Rausch

Family: CACTACEAE · Variety or form of Echinopsis ancistrophora

Publication: Lobivia 3: 140. 1976

Description

Echinopsis ancistrophora subs. pojoensis (a.k.a. Lobivia pojoensis) is a hookspined cactus from (high) moutain areas distinguished from other varieties of the very variable Echinopsis ancistrophora for the larger sized stem with long tubed (ca 9 cm) reddish flowers. Plants grow mostly solitarily.

Stem: Simple, subglobose, depressed, to 8(-10) cm in diameter ( up to 10 cm high in cultivation. Grown from seed.), shining dark green.

Ribs: 15-16(-20), stout, 1 cm high, broad at base, somewhat crenate, divided into many small tubercles.

Radial spines: 3 to 7(-10), whitish, slender, flexible, spreading backward, 5 to 15 mm long.

Central spine: Solitary, rarely as many as 4, sometimes absent, more or less curved or hooked, 1 to 2 cm long light brown.

Flowers: Inodorous, borne laterally, open during the day, pink to red, medium

to long tubed (ca 9 cm). Outer perianth-segments, linear, acuminate. Inner perianth-segments, oblong, acute. Scales of pericarpel and tube with axillary hairs. They are mainly pollinated by solitary bees.

Fruit: Ellipsoid, dirty green to greenish purple, somewhat dry, 16 mm long, 8 mm in diameter. Scales on ovary and flower-tube small, their axils lanate.

Seeds: Spherical to ellipsoid, slightly constricted above the hilum, black, whit no aril.

Origin and Habitat

Central Bolivia.

Type locality: Pojo, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Cultivation and Propagation

Echinopsis ancistrophora subs. pojoensis 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.

  1. Boris O. Schlumpberger and Robert A. Raguso “Geographic variation in floral scent of Echinopsis ancistrophora (Cactaceae); evidence for constraints on hawkmoth attraction” in: Oikos 117: 801-

814, 2008

  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/Aug/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” Birkhäuser 2004

  5. Ortega-Baes, P. & Lowry, M. 2013. Echinopsis ancistrophora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 03 August 2014.

  6. E Haustein “Der Kosmos Kakteenfuehrer (the Kosmos Cactus Guide)” Balogh Scientific Books 01 December 1998

  7. Pat Willmer “Pollination and Floral Ecology” Princeton University Press, 05/Jul/2011

  8. Walter Rausch “Lobivia: The Day Flowering Echinopsidinae from a Geographical Distribution Point of View”, Volumes 1-3 R. Herzig, 1975

  9. Willy Cullmann, Erich Götz (Dozent Dr.), Gerhard Gröner “The encyclopedia of cacti” Timber Press, 1987

  10. John Pilbeam “Cacti for the Connoisseur: A Guide for Growers & Collectors” Timber Press, 01/Jul/1987

  11. Carlos Luis Spegazzini “Cactacearum Platensium Tentamen.” In: Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires. 3(4): 492–493 1905

  12. Martin Lowry: “Echinopsis.” In: Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives. 13: 16–17 2002

  13. Succulenta.37,1956

  14. Walter Rausch: Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten. 23(2): 32.1972

  15. Heimo Friedrich: Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten. 25(4) 82. 1974

  16. Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names.” Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010

  17. Zuloaga, F. O., O. N. Morrone, M. J. Belgrano, C. Marticorena & E. Marchesi: Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 107: 3 Vols., 3348 p. 2008.

  18. Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 1 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1919