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  Austrocactus bertinii CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.

 


Austrocactus bertinii (gracilis?)
Forms a slender dark olive green column, the spines are hooked and stout, the lower and longest about 3-4 cm long, yellowish-brown to almost black. Older spines are grey and provide effective camouflage in habitat.
 

Description: A. Bertinii forms a low column of more or less hooked spines, simple or branched at base with several stems. This plant is extremely variable especially for the presence of hooked spines and size of the stems. The several forms found in the vast distribution area have received different specific names, but all them show a continuous variation, so it is extremely difficult to establish the limit from one species to another.
Stems: 20-30(-50) cm tall and 3-5(-8) cm in diameter, dark olive green slender cylindrical to cylindrical
(A thin growing form with stem of only 1-2 cm in diameter is known as A. gracilis)
Ribs: Up to 12 prominent and tuberculate.
Areoles: Circular yellowish-felted about 1 cm apart.
Central spines: 1 to 4, hooked or somewhat arched, stout, the lower and longest about 3-4(-6) cm long, yellowish-brown to almost black. Older spines are grey and provide effective camouflage in habitat.
Radial spines: 6-10 light coloured, up to 1,5 cm long.
Flowers: Diurnal, up to 10 cm in diameter and 6 cm long, pinkish or yellowish sometime with some violet, borne on the upper part of the areoles near the top of the plant. Stigma lobes numerous, red or purple. Stamens in two series the lower forming a ring around the style. Tube and ovary very spiny with woolly hairs and bristles.
Fruit: Nearly dry, globose, spiny with wool and bristles, flower remnants persistent.
Seed: broadly oval, flattened.


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Austrocactus bertinii (Cels ex Herincq) Britton et Rose
In: The Cactaceae, descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family 3: 44-45 fig. 56 1922

OriginPatagonia, Southern Argentina (Nèquen, Rio Negro, Chubut  and Santa Cruz)

Habitat: Grows on rocky soils, often among scrubs and grasses.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common English Names include:

Etymology: The generic name is from the Latin “australis” meaning “southern” plus cactus.
The species was named after the French ship Captain and plant collector in Patagonia M. Bertin who collected this plant at 45° South (Near Puerto Camarones, Chubut) during the 1859 -1860 trip.

Synonyms:

  • Cereus bertinii Cels ex Herincq 1863
  • Malacocarpus bertinii (Cels ex Herincq) Hosseus 1939
  • Notocactus bertinii (Cels ex Herincq) W.T.Marshall 1941 (1949?)
  • Austrocactus duseni (F.A.C.Weber) Speg.
    In:Anales de la Sociedad Cientifica Argentina: Seccion Santa Fe 96: 69 1923
  • Austrocactus gracilis Backeb.
    In: Beitrage zur Sukkulentenkunde und -pflege 58, fig. 1942
  • Austrocactus gracilis Backeb.
    In: Beitr. Sukkulentenk. Sukkulentenpflege 1942, 58 (1942) A
 
 

 

Cultivation: Austrocactus are relatively easy to grow, providing they are kept cold, but dry during autumn and winter.  However difficult to find high quality plants of this species in cultivation, A. bertinii loves a very permeable, coarse mineral soil  as well as to be strictly kept dry throughout  the winter quiescent period since it is very sensitive to any moisture excesses, To prevent rottenness it is also advisable to surround its root neck by very rough sand or grit, this help a fast water drainage and an appropriate air circulation. It is essential to give full sun otherwise they will become atypical. If grown in full sun, the new growth will flower in spring and summer. Overwinter  in a cool place (at -5/10°C)  this is important for the flowers as well as for plants health. Without this cool winter period they normally wont get any buds.
Frost Tolerance: Very frost hardy can withstand temperatures down to minus 20° C (or less). 
Sun Exposure: Needs a full sun exposure ( light shadow my be useful in the hottest summer days)

Reproduction:
Seed, cutting (For its sensitive roots this species is frequently grafted to avoid root problems)

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.