Copiapoa taltalensis Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
D196 Juvenile specimen.
Origin and Habitat: Taltal to Esneralda, and the region east of Cifuncho; Quebrada San Ramón (25° 23´S- 70° 26´W) (Taltal), Antofagasta, Chile. Valle de Cachina near Placilla Esmeralda; East of Esmeralda (25° 51´S- 70° 33´W) (Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1386]]SN|1391]] ssp. taltalensis)
Altitude: 0-500(-800) metres above sea level.
Habitat: Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1383]]SN|1391]] grows in open areas in the coastal desert of Taltal, mostly on rocky slopes but extending to the edge of the desert in sandy soils, with protection from direct sun through coastal fog (camanchaca). They obtain water mainly from condensation of the fog, they only manage to survive in those conditions. The succulent vegetation found in this area is particularly interesting and comprises endemic species such as Eriosyce odieriSN|2816]]SN|2824]] subsp. malleolata, Eriosyce occultaSN|2824]]SN|2816]], Copiapoa cinereaSN|1380]]SN|1380]], Copiapoa columna-albaSN|1391]]SN|1383]] and Copiapoa krainzianaSN|1391]]SN|1386]].
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Copiapoa taltalensis
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Copiapoa taltalensis (Werderm.) LooserRevista Chilena Hist. Nat. 33: 614. 1929Synonymy: 20
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Common Names include:
LITHUANIAN (Lietuvių): Ilgadyglis miglinėlis
SPANISH (Español): Quisco del Desierto
Description: Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1391]]SN|1391]] is a perennial geophytic succuculent with rounded stems arising from a large tuberose root.
Habit: It is solitary, or sprouting very sparingly from the base to form large clump up to 50 cm tall.
Roots: Tuberous.
Stem: Globose to short cylindrical, 5 to 15 cm or more tall, and 5 to 10 cm in diameter, pale green or olive green eventually lightly tinged with brown in the sun, globular flattened in the young plant, later columnar, crowned by a dense mass of silky brownish wool, particularly at flowering time.
Ribs: 10 to 17 prominent, not wavy, divided into large tubercles about 7 mm high.
Areoles: Round covered with white or brown felt up to 1 cm apart.
Spines: Straight or slightly curved, white to yellow to brown to black (later grey).
Radial spines: 7-12 about 2 cm long.
Central spines: 1 to 6 stronger and more than 2 cm long as well.
Flowers: Diurnal closing at night, protracting the period of opening many days and arising on the crown, often several at a time, nearly hidden in the dense wool. They are glossy, pale yellow or reddish, with broad limb, 3,5-4,2 cm long and up to 5,5 cm in diameter, and with a faint scent. The filaments, anthers and style are yellow, the 7 to 12 lobed stigma darker. The ovary measures about 1 cm across.
Blooming season: Flowers throughout the whole summer.
Fruits: Globose to ovoid scaly.
Seeds: Small, black glossy.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Copiapoa taltalensis group
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) John Borg “Cacti: a gardener's handbook for their identification and cultivation” Blandford P., 1970
2) Schulz R., (2006) “Copiapoa 2006” Schulz Publishing.
3) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
4) Friedrich Ritter - Kakteen in Südamerika (Ergebnisse meiner 20jährigen Feldforschungen) 1980
5) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
6) F.Ritter “Kakteen Südamerika” 3: 1072 1980.
7) Graham Charles “Copiapoa” Cirio Pub. Services, 1999
8) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
9) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
Cultivation and Propagation: Considering that Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1391]]SN|1391]] comes from a habitat with an extremely arid climate, they are remarkably tolerant of pot culture. These plants have taproots and are susceptible to overwatering. They requires also an appropriate air circulation. Copiapoas are summer grower species easy to cultivate.
Growth rate: This is a slow growing cactus kept for the beauty of its form that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very coarse mineral cactus mix soil, but can become too elongated if compost is too rich.
Repotting: Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: It requires light but regular waterings in summer, but let the soil mix dry between waterings, but do not overwater (Rot prone), it must be strictly kept dry throughout the winter quiescent period since it is very sensitive to any moisture excesses keep dry in winter.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: Not highly tolerant of a great deal of frost. They need to be kept in a cool place during winter rest and are resistant to light frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather ( they are hardy to -2 C ° C short periods). However some warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (minimum 5° to 10°C during rest season).
Exposition: Requires full sun or light shade and careful watering to keep plant compact with strong coloured spines. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering and heavy spine production. Light shadow my be useful in the hottest summer days.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the infested plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem. It is wise to treat your whole collection with a systemic insecticide twice a year in spring and autumn.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much. To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage.
Propagation: Seeds (or offsets if available), Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in collection. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!
Copiapoa desertorum F.Ritter: is an hardy desert type that distinguishes for the darker coloured spines and for the rarely seen red flowers. Distribution: Cifuncho.
