Copiapoa calderana.
Really magnificent!!!
|
Description: Usually
solitary or slowly clumping columnar cactus.
Stem: Dull greenish or greyish-green, not pruinose, depressed
spherical or cylindrical, 15(-30) cm tall, 10 cm in diameter; Apex
densely woolly.
Ribs: 10 to 17.
Areoles: Yellowish-grey, later black, 5 mm across.
Spines: Thick reddish brown to black.
Central spines: 1( to 2), 2.2 to 3 cm long.
Radial spines: 5 to 7, 1.3 to 1.5 cm long.
Roots: Long tuberous.
Flowers: Large light yellow funnel-shaped, 3 to 3.5 cm in length,
3 cm wide, scented.
Blooming season: Spring and summer,
Fruit: Pale green, reddish above to 15 mm long.
Seeds: Glossy black
Note: This appears to be a very variable species.
|
|
Photo &
© copyright
by Süleyman Demir Turkey
Home page:
http://community.webshots.com/user/demir165 |
This species has large whitish-grey woolly areoles & stout spines,
spines colour vary from reddish to black.
|
|
Cultivation: Need full sun
otherwise the bodies tended to elongate in cultivation, but should be
protected from excessive heat and sun in summer, Require light watering,
good drainage. Keep warm and dry in winter to avoid rot. Frost tolerance
0°C
Propagation: Seeds (offsets
rarely), Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a
back-up to plants in collection.
Copiapoa calderana.
(This
Taxon has lots of
synonyms ( like many other Copiapoa) whit several controversial
varieties and subspecies and comprises several different forms, but
where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with
intermediate characteristics):
|
|
|
Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) |
| |
|
Scientific name:
Copiapoa calderana F.
Ritter
Origin: Coastal deserts of northern Chile, Antofagasta,
North of Caldera (3ª region of Copiapó)
Habitat:
These plants live in the
mainly in the generally rocky coastal areas. The long tuberous root of
this copiapoa is buried deeply in these soils which are very poor in
organic matter. The superficial layer is completely composed of "maicillo"
(granite) and in the deepest levels are very dense clays which are able
to retain some water throughout the summer. In the area where this
plants grows there is very little rain but frequent coastal fog, which
provides a significant part of their water needs.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Etymology:
Copiapoa is named after the city
of Copiapó in northern Chile. 'Calderana' refers to Caldera, another
location in Chile.
|
Synonyms:
- Copiapoa atacamensis
- Copiapoa lembckei Backeberg 1959
- Copiapoa calderana var. spinisor
F. Ritter 1980
- Copiapoa marginata (Sd) Br&R
- Copiapoa magnifica
- Copiapoa marginata v. magnifica
- Copiapoa streptocaulon
- Copiapoa boliviana,
- Echinocactus bolivianus,
|
|
|
|
Cultivation
and Mail Sale 
