Oreocereus leucotrichus

Oreocereus leucotrichus is a species of cactus native to Peru and Chile.[2]

Oreocereus leucotrichus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Oreocereus
Species:
O. leucotrichus
Binomial name
Oreocereus leucotrichus
(Phil.) Wagenkn.
Synonyms
  • Arequipa leucotricha (Phil.) Britton & Rose 1922
  • Borzicactus leucotrichus (Phil.) Kimnach 1960
  • Echinocactus leucotrichus Phil. 1891
  • Echinopsis leucotricha (Phil.) Anceschi & Magli 2013
  • Arequipa variicolor (Backeb.) Backeb. 1953
  • Borzicactus hendriksenianus (Backeb.) Kimnach 1960
  • Cereus hendriksenianus Backeb. 1933
  • Morawetzia variicolor Kníže 1969
  • Oreocereus hendriksenianus (Backeb.) Backeb. 1933
  • Oreocereus hendriksenianus f. densilanatus (Rauh & Backeb.) Krainz 1963
  • Oreocereus hendriksenianus var. densilanatus Rauh & Backeb. 1956 publ. 1957
  • Oreocereus hendriksenianus f. spinosissimus (Rauh & Backeb.) Krainz 1963
  • Oreocereus hendriksenianus var. spinosissimus Rauh & Backeb. 1956 publ. 1957
  • Oreocereus knizei T.Hewitt & Donald 1975
  • Oreocereus variicolor Backeb. 1951
  • Oreocereus variicolor var. tacnaensis Backeb. 1962

Description

Oreocereus leucotrichus grows as a shrub with numerous, upwardly curved shoots branching from the base and forming dense groups. The columnar shoots are 1 to 2 meters long and have a diameter of 6 to 12 centimeters. There are 10 to 15 flat and shallowly grooved ribs. The areoles on them are covered with numerous, white to black, 5 to 10 centimeter long hairs. The thorns arising from the areoles are strong, yellowish to chestnut brown or orange and do not turn gray with age. The one to four central spines are slightly curved and 5 to 8 centimeters long. The five to ten marginal spines are up to 1.5 centimeters long.

The crimson flowers appear near the tips of the shoots. They are 8 to 10 centimeters long. The spherical to slightly elongated fruits are reddish yellow to yellowish green and have a diameter of 4 to 6 centimeters.[3]

Distribution

Oreocereus leucotrichus is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Ayacucho and Arequipa as well as in northern Chile at altitudes of 2000 to 3500 meters.

Taxonomy

The first description as Echinocactus leucotrichus was made in 1891 by Rudolph Amandus Philippi. The specific epithet leucotrichus comes from Greek, means 'white-haired' and refers to the white hairs that cover the species. Rodolfo Wagenknecht placed them in the genus Oreocereus in 1956.[4] Nomenclatural synonyms are Arequipa leucotricha (Phil.) Britton & Rose (1922), Borzicactus leucotrichus (Phil.) Kimnach (1960) and Echinopsis leucotricha (Phil.) Anceschi & Magli (2013).

References
  1. Chile), Universidad de; Assessment), Helmut Walter (Global Cactus; Assessment), Luis Faundez (Global Cactus (2011-05-05). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  2. "Oreocereus leucotrichus (Phil.) Wagenkn. — Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  3. Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 483–484. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  4. Chile., Museo Nacional de (1891). "Anales del Museo Nacional de Chile". el Museo. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
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