Xerophyte

Central Spines

0-1 slightly bent upward long and stiff. In habitat the central spine may reach 2,5-7 cm in length although it will almost certainty be rather shorter in cultivation.

Description

Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] subs. chacoana is an attractive plant because of its long spines. It is a clumping plant with erect or ascending stems, sometime solitary in cultivation and unusually tall for an echinopsis. This subspecies is distinguished for the higher number of rib (12—18) and radial spines (7—8). It has splendid white trumpet-shaped flowers with long brown-woolly tube. Nevertheless, the long, dark spines contrast well with the white flower.

Note

'chacoanus -a -um' for the occurrence in the Chaco (annually flooded flatlands) Chaco region of Paraguay.

Flowers

White, up to 15 cm long. Inner perianth segments pure white, oblong, acute, stigma lobes linear, ± 11, greenish, tube long woolly. It will flower when about 7-8 cm in diameter, the buds often appear laterally from areoles in the lowest part of the stem.

Spines

Yellowish with brownish tips.

Ribs

12-18, low, straight or moderately sinuate, not tuberculate.

Stem

At first ball-like or oval, but as the plant mature cylindrical, dull grey green, 30-80 cm tall, up to 9 cm in diameter

Radial Spines

7-8, spreading, stright to slightly curved, up to 2 cm long.

Areoles

Large rounded, coarse, grey, 1,5-2,5 mm apart.