Xerophyte

Description

The typical Copiapoa dealbata is a cespitose, greyish-white globular cactus typically with only one single spine from the areoles. The form with more spine per arela (up to 7) is known as Copiapoa carrizalensens but the two forms grows side by side and plants with few or more spines grows together in the same population.

Crested Growth

The crested forms are cultivated for their beautiful stem with dense bristly spine and pronounced sculpture effects. These plants produce crests, and crests occasionally produce normal shoots. Flowers are produced both on the the apex of normal and crested specimens. The plants are often grafted on stronger species, called the stock, that can be any number of different columnar cactus.