Xerophyte

Habit

Plants solitary for a while but eventually may form clumps.

Central Spines

1 strong, curved, elongated, usually 3 cm long (but often up to 10 cm long)

Seeds

Black, up to 1,5 cm in diameter.

Description

Echinopsis melanopotamicaSN|11363]]SN|8250]] which comes from the Rio Negro region in Southern Argentina represent the southern form of Echinopsis leucanthaSN|21017]]SN|8246]].

Similar Species

It is related both with Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|8246]]SN|21017]] and Echinopsis feroxSN|8250]]SN|11363]]. But it is easily recognizable for its cylindrical stem and upper spines bent over the plant apex.

Flowers

Funnel-form, up to 16 (or more) cm long, 10 cm in diameter, the tube about 3 cm broad at the mouth, dark brown, with scattered areoles bearing small tufts of brown hairs. Outer perianth segments brownish, spreading, 2 cm long, with an acute scarious tip. Inner perianth segment in about 3 series, spreading, the outer purplish, the inner ones white, oblong, acute approx 3 cm long. Filaments many of unequal length, the series at the mouth of the flower-tube erect up to 1,5 cm long. Stigma lobes numerous creamy-white to green.

Ribs

12-14, obtuse, somewhat compressed up to 1,5 cm tall.

Stem

Globose to oblong, 25-100(130) cm tall.15-25 cm in diameter. Very dark green sometime greyish or purplish.

Radial Spines

About 6-8, orangish-yellow to dark brown, subulate, rigid, with a bulbous base, more or less curved, 1-2 cm long.

Fruits

Orangish, dehiscent, pulp white.

Areoles

Close together, oblong.