Accepted Scientific Name: Echinopsis marsoneri Werderm.
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 30: 55; et in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Sonderbeih. C, t. 26 (1932).
Echinopsis jajoiana f. cristata Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Echinopsis marsoneri
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Echinopsis marsoneri Werderm.Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 30: 55; et in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Sonderbeih. C, t. 26 (1932).Synonymy: 53
Cultivars
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Description: The standard columnar Echinopsis jajoianaSN|11361]]SN|11361]] (commonly known as Lobivia jajoianaSN|4662]]SN|4662]]) is a small cactus that usually grows solitary or in groups that is very popular and widely grown for its peculiar dark throated flowers. The beautiful crested form here depicted is still rare in cactus collection.
Stem: Fan shaped, forming tangled mounds with time, soft, about 5 to 7 cm in width, grey-green to dark green. The line meristem is slightly depressed and covered with whitish wool
Ribs: Compressed, running downward.
Areoles: 3 mm across, with grey-white felt.
Spines: Of different length, usually straight or slightly bent, directed upward, dark brown to blackish in youth, later grey.
Radial spines: Approximately 10 or less, about 1 cm long.
Central spines: 1 to 3, strong, dark, frequently red; the upper spine usually attains a length of 3 cm and is often hooked and thickened basally (but often shorter and not hooked).
Root: Thick taproot.
Flowers: Arising from the basal tubercles on the side of the plant, up to 7 cm wide, their colors is very variable, going from yellow to orange, tomato-red, vine-red and also happening through all the imaginable tones of violet. All of them have in common that the hymen (or throat ring of the flower) is always of a very dark purple-violet to black, thickened at the edge and glossy. The stamens are purple, the anthers yellow.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinopsis marsoneri group
- Echinopsis jajoiana (Backeb.) hort. ex R.Blossfeld: Flowers colors is very variable, comprising yellow, orange vine-red and violet. All of them have in common that the hymen (or throat ring of the flower) is always of a very dark purple-violet to black, thickened at the edge and glossy.
- Echinopsis jajoiana f. cristata hort.: Crested form.
- Echinopsis jajoiana cv. Anemone: Plant with Anemone like-flowers, the petals are pinkish-white with a very dark purple-violet to black contrasting throat.
- Echinopsis marsoneri Werderm.: Flowers vary from yellow to orange, tomato-red, vine-red and also happening through all the imaginable tones of violet and have a darker contransting orange, red, brown or black throat.
- Lobivia jajoiana var. aurata Rausch: has globose-spherical stems up to 50 mm in diameter and often violet tinged. Ribs 11, radial spines 2-3(-4), central spines 0-1. Flowers golden to orange, with a purple-violet to black throat. Distribution: Jujuy, Punta Corral.
- Lobivia jajoiana var. elegans Rausch: has about 16 ribs, 8-14 radials and 1 central spine. Flowers ochre orange to dark purple-red with a glossy purple-violet to black hymen. Distribution: Jujuy, west at high elevations including Tilcara.
- Lobivia jajoiana var. nigrostoma (Kreuz. & Buining) Backeb.: has yellow flower with the hymen always of a very dark purple-violet to black. Spines are not hooked, needle-like, rather long and not thick. Stems are bluish-green as in the type species. Distribution: Jujuy, Argentina.
- Lobivia jajoiana var. paucicostata (Rausch) Rausch
- Lobivia marsoneri var. iridescens (Backeb.) Rausch: has yellow blooms with orange to red to brown throats. Distribution: Jujuy, Argentina.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) 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
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
Cultivation and Propagation: It is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is usually seen as a grafted plant but can grow on its own roots too.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough), with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.