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Eriosyce (Neoporteria) crispa subsp.
atroviridis var. atroviridis
This species has showy dull-white or brownish blooms,
tannish-green stems and long thin spines.
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Description:
Solitary cactus with showy dull-white or
brownish blooms, tannish-green stems and long thin spinesthat are not
easily distinguished as centrals or radials. This species is quite
variable and of very controversial classification.
Stem: Flattened, sub-globular
or shortly cylindrical 9-14 cm in diameter, glaucous-green,
dark olive green to tannish-green.
Ribs: 13-17 in adult specimen about 7-12 mm tall, tubercled.
Areoles: 5-20 mm apart.
Radial spines: 10 to15, about 1,5-4 cm long, needle-like and more
or less curved inward, pale yellowish, brownish or dark grey with a
darker tip.
Central spines: 1 to 7 slightly stronger, 2 to 5 cm long,
Root: Fibrous to tuberose often
separated by a narrower neck.
Flower: Up to 3,5 cm long and
broad, funnel-form, diurnal, produced by younger areoles at the woolly
apex, dull white to pale brow.
Pericarpel and floral tube with bracts, wool and bristles.
Fruit: 2 x 1,5 cm, more or less
elongated, green or reddish-green,
deishing by basal pores.
Seeds: 1,25 mm.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) Eriosyce atroviridis (atrovirens)
Accepted
Scientific name:
Eriosyce crispa ssp. atroviridis var. atroviridis (F.Ritter)
Katt. 1994
Origin: Chile, Atacama (Vallenar and Freirina )
Habitat: It grows in
costal areas where very little else grows. It's a very drought tolerant
species. Despite the lack of rain where it lives, the
extreme aridity is attenuated by the frequent, often dense, coastal
fogs. The fog tends to concentrate in the form
of a cloud band at an estimated height of 500 to 850 m. It
shows a recurrent pattern; usually it
is overcast in the early
mornings, the clouds dissipating during the late morning and returning
during the late afternoons. The plant grows often buried in the ground
and is almost impossible to spot without the flowers.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Synonyms:
- Pyrrhocactus atroviridis F.Ritter [Basionym]
In: Succulenta 89 1960.
- Horridocactus atroviridis (F.Ritter) Backeb.
In: Cactac. Handb. Kakteenk. 6: 3793 1962
- Neochilenia nigriscoparia
- Neoporteria atrovirens
- Neoporteria atroviridis (F. Ritter) R.M. Ferryman.,
R. & K. Preston-Mafham
In: Cacti: illus. dict.: 140: 1991
- Eriosyce eriosyzoides ssp. atroviridis
- Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. atroviridis (F.Ritter)
Donald et G.D.Rowley
In: Cact. Succ. J. (GB) 28: 58 1966.
- Neoporteria atroviridis (F.Ritter) Ferryman,
Preston-Mafham
In: Cacti: illus. dict. 140 1991.
- Eriosyce crispa var. atroviridis (F.Ritter)
F.Kattermann1994
- Neoporteria vallenarensis var. atroviridis
Kattermann suggest
the following classification of Eriosyce crispa:
subsp. crispa
with hairlike, contorted black spines not easily distinguishable as
radiald and centrals. (Origin West of Freirina)
subsp. atroviridis var. atroviridis with
needle like and 12-14 radial spines (Origin Vallenar and Freirina)
subsp. atroviridis var. carrizalensis with stif needlelike
spines, 12-13 radial spines and approx 15 ribs (Origin:Carrizal and
Carrizal Bajo)
subsp. atroviridis var. huascensis
With stiff, needle
like spines, and few (6-8) radial spines and only 10-12 ribs. (Origin:
East of Huasco)
subsp. atroviridis var. totoralensis
with twisted
spines and few ribs (Copiapo and Totoral Bajo)
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Cultivation:
This slow
growing cactus is kept for the beauty of its form
and flowers. It is a
summer grower species. Easy to cultivate but somewhat
rot prone if kept in a non
ventilated place. Require a very
fast draining drying soil, water regularly in summer,
but do not overwater.
Needs a
full sun exposure, but
must be protected from excessive heat and sun in summer, and seems to do
best in cultivation with a bit of shade.
Good heat tolerance.
Keep warm and dry in winter (5 to10°C)
to avoid rot. Not highly tolerant of a great deal of frost. (Frost
tolerance -5°C or less for shot periods)
Propagation:
Usually propagated from Seeds.
(seldom produces offsets)
Grafting is sometime
used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in
collection.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of plants
belonging to the Eriosyce crispa
complex
(This
Taxon
has lots of synonyms whit several controversial varieties and
subspecies and comprises a
multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by
populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):
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