Xerophyte

Habit

Simple at first it slowly ramifies from the base to form clusters.

Central Spines

0-1, acicular to subulate somewhat recurved 3-9 cm long or less in young specimens; yellowish brown, or brownish. Old plants may produce very long spines (up to 25 cm in some clones)

Description

Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]], better known as Lobivia pentlandiiSN|10598]]SN|10598]], is a common attractive dwarf clumping cactus and particularly is fun as it matures and flowers at an early age. Probably the best known species, it includes many varieties of desirable plants with pretty flowers in almost any colour. This is one of the most variable species in the genus and has lots of unnecessary names, none deserving acceptance as shown by field studies (like many other cacti) and comprises a multitude of different regional or morphological forms as well as various cryptic allied species. But where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics. This species is in cultivation with many cultivated and propagated forms. Generations of cactophiles have had this plant as one of their first acquisition and few can have been disappointed by its easy cultivation and free-flowering habit. It is the type species of the genus Lobivia.

Roots

Tap root.

Flowers

Diurnal, short-funnelform, extremely variable in colour purplish-pink, pale-pink, reddish-brown, orange, red, to yellow, with a usual clearer centre, 4-6 cm long, 5 cm diameter. Tube relatively stout greenish up to 1 cm in diameter. Inner perianth-segments, narrowly obovate, abruptly acute, spreading. Stamens and style much shorter than the inner perianth-segments. Scales on ovary and flower-tube lanceolate with short-hairy in their axils.

Blooming Season

Blooms are produced in spring and remain open for about three days.

Spines

Variable, stout, all radial or sometime with one central.

Ribs

12 to 15 (or more) deeply crenate, rather high, broken into long acute, hatchet-shaped, tubercles, separated by acute intervals.

Stem

Low thick flat, ovoid or cylindrical, but usually higher than broad, somewhat umbilicate at apex, bright green, dark green, or somewhat glaucous; size depending on the clone.

Radial Spines

5-15, curved backward, acicular, yellowish brown, to 3 cm long.

Fruits

Subglobose, 10 to 12 mm in diameter.

Areoles

Felted about 2 cm apart.