Xerophyte

Description

Eulychnia iquiquensisSN|8188]]SN|8188]] is a treelike cactus, branching near the base, 2-7 metres high with short trunks, when old quite spineless below, but very spiny toward the top. For the most part, Eulychnias can hardly be called handsome plants, and E. iquiquensis is certainly no an exception. Their growth is irregular, and their constant struggle for moisture must take its toll on any fancies the plants might have toward symmetrical or regular development, so many of them are raggedy and sometimes downright ugly. In nature the lack of rainfall results in a pallid grey colour, sometimes downright ugly. Most of the plants become covered with prime and dust that is never removed by cleansing rain, and they resemble drab fossils more than living plants. Parts of the plants are usually dead or dying, and the living parts may be dormant, so that it is difficult to ascertain which is which [2].Derivation of specific name. "iquiquensis" For the occurrence near the city of Iquique, Chile. [3]

Taxonomy

According to the Peruvian cactus specialists, the northern subpopulation, which is classified as a subspecies (subsp. ritteri) by Hunt et al. (2006), should be reclassified as a separate species. The subsp. ritteri occurs on the coast of Arequipa, Chala and Atiquipa. The Peruvian and Chilean subpopulations are separated by approximately 600 km.

Flowers

Flowers borne near tips of branches, broadly bell-shaped, white, 5.5-6.5 cm long including the ovary; receptacle-tube short, bearing numerous scales with woolly hairs. Flower-buds globular, covered with long, white, silky hairs; inner perianth-segments white, short.

Spines

On vigorous sterile shoots about 12 to 20 at an areole, not differentiated as centrals and radials, variable, erect, most of them about 1-2 cm. long, while 1 or 2 are very stout, straight, elongated, and sometimes 12 cm long; on flowering branches the spines numerous, soft and hair-like or some of them bristle-like.

Ribs

12-15, broader at base than above, somewhat tuberculate, separated by acute intervals.

Stem

Trunk usually very short, 20 to 25 cm. in diameter, its outer layers pulpy and yellow, straight, with many branches from near the base, these nearly erect or more or less spreading and sometimes branching above, robust

Fruits

Globose, 5-6 cm in diameter, fleshy, acid, densely clothed with white hairs.

Areoles

Areoles of the joints large, 5 to 10 mm in diameter, closely set, sometimes with only a very little space between them, densely filled with short, white wool. On many old stems and branches the areoles die and fall, leaving a row of indentations along the top of the ribs.