Xerophyte

Central Spines

2-5, 2-6 cm long.

Description

Copiapoa solarisSN|29429]]SN|9786]] is a slowly clumping cactus with a cushion like growth form. They are incredibly slow growing, but old plants in habitat - over centuries - will form large cushion up to 2,30 m of diameter and 90 cm tall with hundreds of heads.

Flowers

Up to 3 cm long and in diameter, funnelform, yellow, occasionally with a pink or reddish coloured throat. The flowers are often almost concealed among the dense wool and spines at plant apex. Flower tube woolly (Hence the name Pilocopiapoa = hairy Copiapoa). It needs a lot of sunlight to bloom, so it's pretty rare to have blossoms when in cultivation in greenhouses.

Crested Growth

The beautiful and very rare crested form (Copiapoa solaris f. cristataSN|9786]]SN|29429]]) is sought after by specialized collectors and impassioned for its unique tufted appearance. It forms fan-shaped stems densely covered by stout,slightly bent amber/yellow spines, reddish-brown when young and very woolly areoles.

Spines

Yellow, amber or reddish-brown when young, later chalky-grey, robust, straight or slightly bent, long and interwoven.

Ribs

Elevated, up to 3,5 cm tall, not tuberculate.

Stem

Fan shaped 8-12 cm in width, green to grey-green with a waxy coating presumably to prevent desiccation in it's extremely dry environment.

Radial Spines

7-10, 2-3 cm long.

Fruits

Woolly, up to 15 mm in diameter.