Publication: Sukkulentenkunde 7/8: 95. 1963
Description
Echinopsis densispina f. sublimiflora (still known in cultivation with its old name Lobivia sublimiflora) is a geographical or morphological form of the exceedingly variable Echinopsis densispina characteristically covered with diaphanous, pectinate spines, central spine blacker and pointing upwards. The beautiful flowers are very large for the size of plant, lustrous salmon-pink to carmine in colour.
Habit: It is a low growing cactus species forming clusters or cushions from a large tap root.
Stem: Ovoid, greyish-green, dull green or brown-purplish-green, up to 8 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Approximately 17, more or less notched, forming tubercles.
Areoles: Yellowish-white, somewhat sunken, about 5 mm apart.
Radial spines: 16-22 white, up to 4 mm long, diaphanous, pectinate, appressed against the stem, bristle-like, flexible, forming a close network that shades and almost hides the body.
Central spines: 0 to 7, blacker and pointing upwards. Larger at the base about 5 mm long.
Flowers: The flowers varying from salmon-pink to carmine, up to 8,5 cm long, often larger than the plants itself.
Origin and Habitat
Lobivia sublimiflora has a relatively restricted range in Jujuy, northern Argentina.
Altitude: It occurs at elevations from 2200 to 3300 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in sand and soft soils in prepuna grassland with short bushes and inter-Andean valleys together with Rebutia euanthema, Rebutia pseudodeminuta and Lobivia jajoiana. The species is locally abundant and there are no major threats. It regenerates very fast.
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinopsis densispina f. sublimiflora is a summer-growing species that offers no cultivation difficulty, not as badly affected by moisture as other cactus species. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It should be watered regularly in Summer allowing to dry before watering again and kept drier in Winter. It is very drought-tolerant.
Hardiness: It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates, needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Walther Haage “Cacti as House Plants” Studio Vista, 1965
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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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Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Volume V, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
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- Lowry, M. 2013. Echinopsis densispina. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 January 2014.
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