Xerophyte

Habit

The standard Oroya peruvianaSN|1494]]SN|1494]] is an extremely variable slow-growing perennial cactus species that grows, as the Oreocereus do, in the high mountains of the Andes. It is (usually) solitary but may produce small clumps with age.

Central Spines

Sometimes as many as 6, but often wanting, a little longer and stouter than the laterals and usually reddish-brown in colour.

Seeds

Helmet-shaped, reddish-brown to black, approx. 2 mm long.

Description

This is the nice crested form of Oroya peruvianaSN|1494]]SN|1494]], a small cactus miniature that will slowly forms tangled groups up to 20 cm in diameter.

Roots

Tuberous.

Flowers

Small 1,5 to 2 cm long, bell to funnel-shaped, often very numerous, produced from young areoles, pink-orange-red with a whitish to lemon yellow centre.

Blooming Season

Spring to summer.

Spines

Ranging in colour from pale yellow, to orangish, to coppery gold to brown with darker bases and reddish tips , barely distinguishable as centrals and radials.

Stem

Fan-shaped, bright green to blue-green with obtuse ribs divided into low tubercles.

Radial Spines

15 to 20, variable, more or less pectinated, slightly curved inward, unequal, the longer ones about 2 cm long (usually less than 1,5 cm long).

Fruits

More or less spherical or short club shaped, hollow berries, slightly fleshy, yellow or reddish brown., and covered with small scale. Flowers remnants persistent.

Areoles

Long, narrow 8 long, whitish, closely set, very woolly, on the extremity of a groove in the tip of tubercles.