Xerophyte

Central Spines

(1-)4 stronger, up to 5 cm in length, sharp, standing out from the stem in a very aggressive manner, yellowish, orangish, horn-coloured or dark brown

Description

Oreocereus hendricksenianus is a clustered columnar cactus that form groups up to 1.4 m tall and 2 m in width. At first the body is club shaped, becoming cylyndrical with age, though growth is slow. The beauty of this plant lies in the covering of silky white, yellowish, red-brown to black hair, completely concealing the stem, protruding through which are stout, brightly coloured spines. Oreocereus hendricksenianus is very similar in appearance to Oreocereus ritteriSN|17844]]SN|17844]], with the added attraction of more hair colours. The chocolate-coloured form is most unusual, and it comes in yellow and white as well. Usually chocolate-coloured form produce hair of chocolate colour only on new growth, but soon bleaching.

Note

Oreocereus hendriksenianus, nowadays is considered by most authors to be a variety of Oreocereus leucotrichus, thought some other authors still considered it a different species.

Flowers

Pink to carmine red, around 7 cm long, tubular, zygomorphic and densely hairy.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Ribs

Ribs 10, with a transverse furrow, which is completely obscured by the mass of hairs between the areoles.

Stem

Columnar, erect, branching from base,1(-1.4) m tall, almost 10 cm thick, green.

Radial Spines

8-9 (-10) fine no more than 1 cm in length.