Xerophyte

Habit

Plants shrubby, mostly branching basally, producing several erect, unbranched stems, 2-4 m high.

Central Spines

2-3, yellow or brown, erect, needle-like, 2-3 cm long.

Seeds

Black, oval to pear shaped, rough, tuberculate.

Description

Espostoopsis dybowskiiSN|7944]]SN|7944]] is the only species in the Espostoopsis genus. It is a night blooming cereoid species, mainly branching near the base. The flowers are white, tubular and bell shaped.

Note

The southern form from a disjunct locations shows some differences (notably smaller stems and more exserted olive-brown fruits) that could justify subspecific status.

Flowers

Nocturnal, shortly tubular-campanulate, white, to 4 cm long; pericarpels naked; floral tubes with very small scales less than 1 mm long, otherwise naked. Tepals short, white.

Fertile Zone

Blooms are produced in a lateral cephalium, up to 60 cm long, consisting of masses of long white wool.

Ribs

Numerous (20-28) low.

Stem

Cylindrical, about 8 cm in diameter, with white hairs completely obscuring them.

Radial Spines

Numerous, short, fine, hidden in the areolar hairs.

Fruits

Broadly ovoid, nearly naked, pale pink with white pulp, indehiscent, 2.5 cm in diameter; pericarp thick, floral remains persistent and becoming black.

Areoles

Furnished with matted yellowish wool and abundant white hairs covering the whole stem.