Xerophyte

Central Spines

One or wanting, 1 to 3.5 cm long, (usually shorter than the radials), more reddish brown somewhat bent upward.

Description

Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] is a globular or columnar, cespitose cactus with 8 to 10 erect or ascending stems to 80 cm high with 8-13 ribs and 4-7 radial spines up to 2.5 cm long. Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] blooms with slender white flowers, at the base of which there are dark scales with white, black and red, woolly hairs. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. chacoana (Schütz) P.J.Braun & Esteves.

Flowers

White 15-19 cm, 9 cm in diameter, long funnel-shaped, tubular produced from the tubular areoles. Ovary with many blackish scales and reddish brown wool. Tube light brown, woth with green scales and a mix of white, blackish brown and reddish wool. Outer perianth-segments lanceolate, white with a brown median strip. Inner perianth-segments white, subequal, oblong, acute. Throat light green. Stamens numerous, primary and secondary in one continuous ring with no separate throat-circle. Filaments white. Anthers cream. Stigma-lobes linear, 11, green.

Ribs

8 to 13 (or more), rather low (.5-2 cm tall), a little sinuate rounded, with barely pronounced tubercles, separated by deep vertical grooves.

Stem

Branches erect or ascending, dull greyish green or light green, elongated, cylyndrical, apex slightly depressed, woolly, with some young spines, 30 to 80 cm high, 9-12 cm in diameter, or sometimes simple in cultivation.

Radial Spines

4 to 7(-8), strong, erect, to 2 cm long, widely spreading, a little curved, yellowish with brown to blackish tips, later turning pale.

Fruits

Ovoid, 4.5 × 2.5 cm, lined with reddish-brown wool.

Areoles

15 to 30 mm apart, lined with wool yellowish passing greyish white.