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Like it's
relatives, this
species is a quick grower and is reported to
grow up to 8m in height.
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Growth Habits: T. chiloensis
is a fiercely spiny
cactus. It
develops into a
shrub or small
tree.
Stem: Rarely
single, usually of several
branches, sometimes of many, arising from near the
base, starting nearly at right angles to the main
trunk but soon erect, up to 8 m tall, stems 10-12.5 cm in diameter ;
10 to 17 low and broad
ribs, separated by narrow intervals, divided into large
tubercles even when fully
mature.
Areoles/Spines:
Areoles large whitish, 2 cm apart. Spines yellowish with brown tips, at
least when young, greyish later; 1 to 4
centrals,
porrect, often stout, 5-7 cm (or even 12 cm); 8 to 12
radials, up to 4 cm long.
Flowers:
Nocturnal 14 cm. long, outer
perianth-segments
white but tinged with red or brown; inner perianth-segments white,
acuminate.
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Cultivation:
Trichocereus chiloensis is very easy to grow and cold hardy as low as
-12°C (or less). Need a fertile, well drained soil mix. Water the plants
well and allow them to dry before watering again. This species seems to
do better with a little more water than most cacti. In fact, its
cultivation requirements are really more like 'normal' plants than most
other cacti. During the growing season fertilize them monthly with a
balanced fertilizer
Sun Exposure: Outside
full sun, inside needs bright light, and
some direct sun. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place
and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and
fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to
lower levels of light. They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti,
especially in warm weather. They tend characteristically towards black
rotted spots unless watering is moderate and only in hot weather, if
kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
T. chiloensis produces noticeable amounts of growth each year if kept well
fed and watered throughout the warmest months, particularly if it has
been acclimatised to accept full sun. Once this cactus is established
it can easily produce 20cm of growth every year.
Propagation:
Cutting or from seed. The seeds are quite easy to germinate and grow.
Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining
soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name: Trichocereus chiloensis
(Colla) Britton & Rose, The Cactaceae; descriptions and illustrations of
plants of the cactus family 2: 137-139, f. 199-200, 1920
Origin: North-Central Valley of Chile, from Curico to Puenta
Colorado.
Habitat: Chilean
matorral in the upper hill-slopes that flank the higher Andes. The
climate in this area is similar to that of the Southern Californian
chaparral
Synonyms:
- Echinopsis chiloensis (Colla)
Friedrich & Rowley
- Cereus chilensis var. quisco,
- Trichocereus chiloensis var. zizkaanus,
- Cereus quisco,
- Trichocereus chiloensis var. quisco,
- Cereus chiloensis var. funkianus,
- Trichocereus funkii,
- Cereus funkii, Trichocereus chiloensis
var. funkii,
- Cereus chiloensis var. eburneus,
- Eulychnia eburnea,
- Cereus chiloensis,
- Trichocereus chilensis,
- Cactus chiloensis,
- Trichocereus chiloensis var. eburneus,
- Cereus chiloensis var. zizkaanus
- Trichocereus chilensis (Colla) Fric &
Kreuz. 1935
- Trichocereus chilensis var. eburneus
(Phil.) W.T.Marshall 1941
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Taxonomical notes:
The
original name for this cactus was Trichocereus
chiloensis. In 1950, Skottsberg pointed that the name was
misspelled, and was changed to "chilensis" for "Chile"+"ensis".
The rules of
nomenclature now, give priority to the original name, misspelling
included, except if the name was changed by the
original author. Thus, Friedrich & Rowley retained chiloensis
when they included the genus Trichocereus into the genus
Echinopsis.
This species is occasionally confused with T. litoralis.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Lobivia (Echinopsis) pentlandii .
Of plants belonging to the Lobivia...
complex
(This
Taxon
has lots of synonyms
(like most Lobivia) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):
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