Echinocactus cinerascens
Echinocactus cinerascens
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Echinocactus cinerascens
Author
Salm-Dyck
Chinese genus
金琥属
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Habit
Slow to cluster, may for many years be a single stem.
Central Spines
1-4 (usually 2), 1-2 cm long, subulate stout, straight or slightly curved, dark coloured, becoming grey or whitish.
Seeds
1,2 x 11 x 8 mm.
Description
Copiapoa cinerascensSN|1420]]SN|1420]] is one of the most admired species of Copiapoa that forms dense cushions, with many heads covered with greyish wax.
Roots
Large swollen tap-root connected to the stem-base by a narrow neck.
Flowers
Diurnal closing at night, protracting the period of opening many days, somewhat fragrant, funnel-shaped, opening widely, yellow, 2,7-5,5 cm long.
Blooming Season
Summer, it needs a lot of sunlight to bloom, so it's pretty rare to have blossoms when in cultivation in greenhouses. It is not unusual for this Copiapoa to take 10 or more years before it starts blooming, but once it does, it should every year.
Ribs
15-20 or more , obtuse, with broad low tubercles above the areoles.
Stem
Depressed-spherical 8-15 cm in diameter, light grey-green to ash-grey and with grey wool at the apex. The grey coloration is a waxy coating presumably produced to prevent desiccation in it's extremely dry environment. In cultivation the waxy bloom is often not produced, revealing a green epidermis.
Radial Spines
7-9, 5-15 mm, stoutly needle-like, straight, spreading, interlacing, and never all adpressed, lower ones longest.
Fruits
1-1,5 cm in diameter, reddish or greenish,
Areoles
Crowded, the adjoining ones usually touching, round, 5-8 mm in diameter and, 3-7 mm apart. Young areoles filled with soft grey or black felted wool.