Xerophyte

Description

Echinopsis atacamensisSN|7374]]SN|7374]] subsp. pasacana is a massive tall tree-like cactus with a strong branched habit that distinguish it from the subsp. atacamensis that is usually unbranched and less tall.

Flowers

Borne on the sides of the stems, rose-white, 10–14 cm long; Tube covered with long blackish hairs.

Blooming Season

Spring to summer, flowers open in the evening and last from 18 to 40 hours.

Spines

(30-)40-50(-100) quite variable in different specimen, unequal, hardly distinguishable from radials to central, subulate, rigid to flexible, amber, yellow-brown or dark-brown coloured, the longest up to 30 cm long, but usually less than 10 cm long.

Ribs

20-30 deep.

Stem

Columnar, cylindrical, stout, 30-80 cm across that grows very slowly up to 10 m tall in a life span that may stretch more than 300 years. The stem stays for a long time solitary but produces lateral branches and becomes Saguaro-like with age. Larger stems my weight several tons.

Fruits

Dark green, densely covered with hairs, up to 5 cm long, edible.

Areoles

Brown becoming large, round that produce at once a whole spine cluster, but the areoles remain capable of further growth. Many years later new spines may be formed from the upper part of the areoles.