Xerophyte

Central Spines

1( to 2), 2.2 to 3 cm long (to 4 cm long at least in var. spinosior Ritter).

Seeds

Glossy, black 1.5 x 1 mm.

Description

Copiapoa calderanaSN|1745]]SN|1739]] is a beautiful solitary or loosely clumping cactus, often known in cultivation with the not validly published Bakeberg's name Copiapoa lembckeiSN|1739]]SN|1745]]. The apical meristem is protected by greysh wool, which shades developing flower buds and fruits. The yellow flowers have a hard time coming through the dense mass of spines. Two subspecies are recognized by Hunt et al. (2006), the nominate and subsp. atacamensis (Middled.) D.R.Hunt.

Roots

Long, tuberous with a contracted neck which is easily broken.

Flowers

Produced at the stems apex, scented, funnel-shaped, slightly compressedand not opening fully, light yellow, 2.5 to 3.5 cm in length, 3 cm wide. Nectaries 2-3 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, half open. Receptacle pale yellow-green with several large reddish-brown scales, funnel-shaped, 6-9 mm long, 10-12 mm wide at the top.

Spines

Thin to thick, acicular-subulate, straight or almost straight, reddish brown to black, but also amber or yellow slowly ageing to grey.

Ribs

10 to 17 broad and blunt 6-10 mm tall and only slightly tuberculate (tubercles more conspicuous in seedlings).

Stem

Dull greenish or greyish-green, not pruinose (without white coating), depressed spherical or cylindrical, 15(-30) cm tall, 5-10 cm in diameter. Apex densely woolly, grey.

Fruits

Pale green, reddish above to 15 mm long.

Note

This appears to be a very variable species.

The name comes from the coastal zone north of Caldera (Chile) which is its habitat.

Blooming Season

Spring and summer.

Radial Spines

4 to 7, 1.3 to 1.5 cm long.

Areoles

Circular, 4-7 mm across, yellowish-grey, later black, c. 6 mm apart.