Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Paraguay (Chaco Boreal).
Habitat and ecology: Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] subs. chacoana grows under the dense shrubs that cover this hot and arid area.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Echinopsis rhodotricha
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Easter Lily Cactus
UKRAINIAN (Українська): Еxінопсис чакоанський
Description: Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] subs. chacoana is an attractive plant because of its long spines. It is a clumping plant with erect or ascending stems, sometime solitary in cultivation and unusually tall for an echinopsis. This subspecies is distinguished for the higher number of rib (12—18) and radial spines (7—8). It has splendid white trumpet-shaped flowers with long brown-woolly tube. Nevertheless, the long, dark spines contrast well with the white flower.
Derivation of specific name: 'chacoanus -a -um' for the occurrence in the Chaco (annually flooded flatlands) Chaco region of Paraguay.
Stems: At first ball-like or oval, but as the plant mature cylindrical, dull grey green, 30-80 cm tall, up to 9 cm in diameter
Ribs: 12-18, low, straight or moderately sinuate, not tuberculate.
Areoles: Large rounded, coarse, grey, 1,5-2,5 mm apart.
Spines: Yellowish with brownish tips.
Central spines: 0-1 slightly bent upward long and stiff. In habitat the central spine may reach 2,5-7 cm in length although it will almost certainty be rather shorter in cultivation.
Radial spines: 7-8, spreading, stright to slightly curved, up to 2 cm long.
Flowers: White, up to 15 cm long. Inner perianth segments pure white, oblong, acute, stigma lobes linear, ± 11, greenish, tube long woolly. It will flower when about 7-8 cm in diameter, the buds often appear laterally from areoles in the lowest part of the stem.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinopsis rhodotricha group
- Echinopsis rhodotricha K.Schum.: has 8-13 ribs and 4-7 radial spines. Distribution: Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina.
- Echinopsis rhodotricha var. argentinensis Rud.Mey.: has shorter, darker stems with radial spines. Distribution: Argentina.
- Echinopsis rhodotricha var. brevispina F.Ritter: stems to 40 cm tall; ribs 20-30 mm high areoles 3-7 mm long. Radial spines 2-8, 4-15 mm long, central 0-1, rarely 2-3, 10-20 mm long. Distribution: west of Asunción, Paraguay.
- Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana (Schütz) P.J.Braun & Esteves: has 12—18 ribs and 7—8 radial spines. Distribution: Chaco Boreal region of Paraguay,
- Echinopsis rhodotricha var. roseiflora K.Schum.: has pale rose-coloured inner perianth-segments. Distribution: near Concepcion, Paraguay.
- Echinopsis rhodotricha var. spinosior (F.Ritter) F.Ritter: stems 12-20 cm thick; ribs l0-15; Areoles 8-12 mm long; radial spines 8-9, 2-4 cm long, centrals, 3-4, 3-8 (-10) cm long. Distribution: Taringuiti, Prov, Gran Chaco, Bolivia.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) Hunt, D., Taylor, N. and Charles, G. (compilers and editors). “The New Cactus Lexicon.” dh Books, Milborne Port, UK. 2006
3) Oakley, L., Duarte, W. & Pin, A. 2013. Echinopsis rhodotricha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T152091A596143. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152091A596143.en. Downloaded on 17 July 2016.
4) Pin, A.B. and Simon, J. “Guía ilustrada de los Cactus del Paraguay”. SEAM/GReB, Asunción. 2004.
Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli In habitat. Photo by: Alexander Arzberger Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Alexander Arzberger Echinopsis rhodotricha subs. chacoana Photo by: Alexander Arzberger Cultivation and Propagation: Echinopsis rhodotrichaSN|21017]]SN|21017]] subs. chacoana is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) needs good drainage and very porous soil, keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -7° C). Need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer.
Propagation: Direct sow after last frost, offsets.