Xerophyte

Seeds

Dark-brown to almost black, oval approximately 0.76-1.5 mm long and up to 1.1 mm wide, somewhat warty tessellate.

Description

Echinopsis terscheckiiSN|28691]]SN|8744]] best known in cultivation as Trichocereus terscheckiiSN|8746]]SN|8746]] is a huge treelike cactus species, called in Argentina cardon grande. At first columnar, and usually in age with numerous large arms, 10 to 12 meters high.

Flowers

Very large, nocturnal , borne laterally, bell shaped to funnelform, white, 15 to 20 cm long, 12.5 cm broad; inner perianth-segments oblong, 7 cm. long, acute, white; outer perianth-segments dark red to greenish, pericarpel green, scales on the pericarpel and flower-tube ovate, mucronate-tipped, their axils filled with long whitish or brown wool. Flowers appear to be pollinated by bats.

Blooming Season

The plants flower at various times of the year, but primarily during the rainy season (Summer).

Spines

8 to 15, often more in older areoles, yellowish to brownish, subulate, yellow, 1-8 cm or more long.

Ribs

8 to 14(-18), obtuse, prominent, 2 to 4 cm high, obtuse.

Stem

Trunk up to 45 cm in diameter, distinct woody, brancing well above ground level; branches several cylindrical, columnar, erect, 10 to 20 cm in diameter.

Variegated Form

The variegated form (Echinopsis terscheckii f. variegataSN|8744]]SN|28691]]) has sectors, patches or stripes with distinct shades of yellow. A very few variegated plants sprout unpredictably time by time among normal green seedling and are very rare. Plants with variegated stems are often attractive and - despite to their beauty - are very rare and sought after by collectors. It is a strong growing variegated cactus that will slowly forms tall specimens several metres tall with age.

Fruits

Globose or oblong green to blue about 1.3-5 cm in diameter, with acute scales woolly in the axils. Residents of their habitat have reported that the fruits are edible, but inferior to those of the pasacana.

Areoles

Large, 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, brownish felted, 2 to 3 cm apart.