Xerophyte

Description

Echinopsis feroxSN|11363]]SN|11363]] is a very large and spiny cactus, solitary or branched. The body is almost concealed by the spines. This is a very variable species especially in shape and and length of spines and in flowers colour. Since the various forms are connected by intermediates it is extremely difficult to recognize infraspecific taxa.

Note

The flowers, produced very freely, are usually pure white and have long tubes, though in cultivation pink flowers occur quite frequently, but probably the gene pool of plants in cultivation has been polluted.

Flowers

Lateral or basal, 7-10 cm. long, funnel-shaped, and have a slender, curved tube covered with long white hairs. Perianth segments are short and white, but can be of almost any colour.

Spines

Radials are hard to tell from the central spines. Each areole bears approx 4 to 15 spines ranging from slender to thick, conical with a wider base, and irregular in length, the longest up to 8 cm or more. They are flexible and curved upward, and those on new parts of the plant have occasionally a hooked tip. Their colour varies from yellowish to brown when young, but later grey.

Ribs

25 to 50 ribs deeply incised between the tubercles, which are approx. 2 cm long.

Stem

Bluish-green, spherical at first and later sort of cylindrical, and it may grow 25 cm tall and 10-40 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Globular, dark green with flowers remnants.