Copiapoa atacamensis var. calderana
Cact. Fl. Silvestre Chile 98, contrary to Art. 57 ICBN (1988).
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Copiapoa atacamensis var. calderana
Author
(F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Chinese genus
龙爪球属
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
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.