Origin and Habitat: Echinopsis tacaquirensisSN|8720]]SN|8720]] is endemic to western Argentina and Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija).
Type locality: Tacaquira, north of Camargo, Bolivia.
Altitude range: 2,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus is locally abundant in seasonally dry inter-Andean valleys with sparse forests, more frequent on northern slopes. There are no major threats to this species [1] [4] [9].
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Echinopsis tacaquirensis
Description: Echinopsis tacaquirensisSN|8720]]SN|8720]] (Trichocereus taquimbalensisSN|8725]]SN|8725]]) is a shrubby columnar cactus, branching basally with crowded ascending branches up to 2.5 m high (occasionally up to 5 metres tall). Two subspecies of Echinopsis tacaquirensisSN|8720]]SN|8720]] are recognized the nominate and subsp. taquimbalensis. Typically subsp. tacaquirensis does not have readily distinguishable central and radial spines.
Derivation of specific name: This species has been nominated for the occurrence near Tacaquira, Dept. Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
Stems: Cylindrical, robust, dark green, to 15 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Variable, as many as 9, less than 2 cm high, obtuse.
Areoles: Rounded quite large, about 7 mm in diameter, or oval, and then 12 mm long, 1-1.5 cm apart, densely covered with grey-brown felt when young. As well as a dense tufts of very fine grey-white hair up to 1.5 cm long, but soon deciduous.
Spines: Fewer than 20 (rarely more), sometimes not clearly differentiated as centrals and radials, mostly radiating, bristle- to needle-like, slightly stiff but not piercing, straight, twisted or zigzag, unequal in size, sometimes interlacing (in subsp. taquimbalensis), white, pink reddish-brown to blackish with a grey hue, 1-6(-8) cm long.
Flowers: White to delicate pink, funnel-shaped to 23 cm long. Ovaries and floral tubes sculpted and clothed with brown woolly hairs particularly dense on the fruit and about 2 cm long. Bracts in the lower part of the tube few, above numerous and touching each other at the base, lanceolate, terminating out into a point. The lowest ones scarcely 5 mm long, the upper ones gradually transforming into the outer tepals. Outer perianth segments (tepaloids) lanceolate, pointed, 6 cm long and about 1 cm wide at the base. Inner perianth segments (petaloids) oblong to spathulate, less clearly pointed, up to 12 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. Stamens very numerous, in two whorls, the uppermost, at the mouth of the tube slightly more than 2 cm long and therefore much shorter than the corolla. Anthers 3 mm long. Style thick-turgid protruding above the anthers.
Fruits: Dark green, to 4 cm in diameter [1] [2] [3] [6] [9].
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinopsis tacaquirensis group
- Echinopsis tacaquirensis (Vaupel) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley: (subsp. tacaquirensis) typically this subspecies does not have readily distinguishable central and radial spines. Distribution. Chuquisaca, Potosí und Tarija in middle and higher locations from 2300 to 3200 metres.
Echinopsis tacaquirensis subs. taquimbalensis (Cárdenas) G.Navarro: has clearly differentiated central and radial spines. Distribution: Taquimbala province, Cochabamba, Bolivia on dry slopes at altitudes from 2800 to 3100 meters.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) 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
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) Lowry, M. 2013. Echinopsis tacaquirensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T152051A591579. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152051A591579.en. Downloaded on 04 April 2017.
5) David Yetman “The Great Cacti: Ethnobotany & Biogeography” University of Arizona Press, 2007
6) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer Science & Business Media, 29 June 2013
7) Gordon Douglas Rowley “Reunion of the genus Echinopsis”. In: IOS Bulletin. Journal of the International Organization for Succulent Plant Study. 3(3):1974
8) Martin Cárdenas “Notas Cactologicas de Bolivia dos Trichocereus nuevos”. In Revista de Agricultura. 1(8): 1953
9) F. Vaupel “Neue südamerikanische Kakteen” In: Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde. 26(8): 123–124, 1916
10) Martin Cárdenas “Notas Cactologicas de Bolivia dos Trichocereus nuevos.” In Revista de Agricultura. 11(8): 16, 1953.
Cultivation and Propagation: Echinopsis tacaquirensisSN|8720]]SN|8720]] is a pretty common cactus and can be found in collections throughout the world. It grows slowly and is moderately cold hardy, but make sure that it is not exposed to severe freezing temperatures, or it may die.
Soils: They need a well drained soil mix.
Waterings: Water regularly in summer but allow to dry fully before watering again. During the winter months they should be rather kept dry. Since they are big-sized plants, they need plenty of space for their roots. Repotting should be done every other year, or when the plant has outgrown its pot.
Exposure: Light shade when young, full sun later. In cultivation they prefer partial shade as they get sunburn pretty easily. If it get´s a severe sunburn, it can die pretty quickly.
Hardiness: Echinopsis tacaquirensisSN|8720]]SN|8720]] is a typical, cold hardy cactus species and can tolerate temperatures down to -5° Celsius for very short periods of time, but for safe cultivation overwinter keep it at temps of approximately 10° Celsius and completely dry. Wet soil is a killer and should be absolutely avoided.
Propagation: From stem cuttings (if available) in spring (let them dry till the ends callous well. Then replant them in fresh cactus soil that is ever so slightly moist, and keep it that way till they root) or preferably by seeds. Seeds should be sown in a well-drained soil mix. Surface sowing is the best. Seeds germinate in 14-28 days at 20° C .
