Echinopsis atacamensis
Echinopsis atacamensis Flowering shoot tip
Echinopsis atacamensis is a species of the genus Echinopsis in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet refers to the atacamensis occurrence in higher mountainous regions of the Chilean region of Atacama. Spanish common names are " Cardon ", " Cardon Grande ", " Cavul " and " Pasakana ".
Description
Echinopsis atacamensis grows tree-like, branched occasionally candelabra shaped 1.5 to 3 meters above the ground surface and attained stature height of up to 10 meters (rarely up to 15 meters). The cylindrical shoots have diameters of 25 to 40 cm (rarely to 60 cm) on. There are 20 to 30 (rarely up to 40 ) ribs available. The present thereon circular areoles have a diameter of up to 2 inches and larger with age. In younger plants, yellowish to honey-colored spines are strong acicular to subulate and up to 10 cm (rarely up to 15 cm) long. The two to four ( rarely up to eight) central spines can not always be clearly distinguished from those spines. The ten to 15 or more radial spines are irregularly spread. In older plants the thorns are increasingly thinner until they are finally bristle- or hair -like. There are then up to 50 (rarely up to 100), up to 25 centimeters long spines present, which can not be distinguished in central and radial spines.
The wide funnel-shaped, white and occasionally pink tinged flowers appear laterally in the upper third of the shoots. They are open during the day and at night. The flowers are 10 to 14 inches long. The spherical, dark green fruits are densely covered with hairs. They are edible and have a diameter of up to 5 centimeters.
Distribution, systematics and hazard
Echinopsis atacamensis is in the northeast of Chile, distributed in southwest Bolivia and northern Argentina at altitudes 1700-3900 meters.
The first description as Cereus atacamensis by Rudolph Amandus Philippi was published in 1860. Heimo Frederick and Gordon Douglas Rowley set the style in 1974 in the genus Echinopsis. A synonym is nomenklatorisches Helianthocereus atacamensis ( Phil.) Backeb. (1959)
Subspecies
We distinguish the following sub- types:
- Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. atacamensis
- Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. pasacana ( F.A.C.Weber ) G.Navarro
Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. atacamensis The subspecies is widespread in northeastern Chile and in the Bolivian department of Potosí at altitudes 2500-3800 meters. The shoots are usually not branched and up to 6 meters high. The spines is very dense, so that the epidermis is often barely visible.
Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. pasacana The first description as Pilocereus pasacanus by Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber was published in 1886. Gonzalo Navarro presented the way in 1996 as a subspecies of Echinopsis atacamensis. It is distributed in the Argentine provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca and Tucumán and possibly in the southwest of Bolivia in the plains and slopes of the Präpuna at altitudes 2500-3000 m (rarely up to 3500 meters). The subspecies usually grows like candelabra branched and is up to 10 meters (rarely up to 15 meters) high. The side shoots are shorter than the main engine in the rule and the spines is slightly more open than Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. atacamensis.
Further nomenclatural synonyms are Echinopsis pasacana ( FACWeber ) H.Friedrich & GDRowley (1974) and Trichocereus atacamensis var pasacana ( FACWeber ) F.Ritter (1980). Be included in the subspecies as a synonym of Echinopsis formosissima Labour. (1855 ), Trichocereus cephalopasacana Fric (1929, nom. Inval. ICBN Article 32.1c ), Trichocereus cephalopasacana [? ] Albicephalus Fric (1929, nom. Inval. ICBN articles 11.432.1c, 43.1), Echinopsis cephalopasacana Fric (1933, nom. inval. ICBN Article 32.1c ), Leucostele rivierei Backeb. (1953), Trichocereus rivierei ( Backeb. ) Krainz (1967 ), Echinopsis rivierei ( Backeb. ) H.Friedrich & GDRowley (1974) and Trichocereus erernophilus F.Ritter (1980).
In the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN is the species as " Near Threatened (NT) ", ie out to be low risk.
Use
The wood of Echinopsis atacamensis was formerly used as a construction material as well as for furniture and paneling. Sometimes it was also used as fuel. Today it souvenirs are manufactured. The fruits are offered locally as fruit and dried.