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E. strausiana (ex: Pyrrhocactus strausianus R542 Quebrada del Toro -
Cacheuta, Mendoza, Argentina )
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Description: Eriosyce strausiana is a solitary or slowly
clumping cactus with very strong spines. Flowers grow up at the top.
Stem: Globose to to sub-globose or cylindrical as
it becomes old, up to 20 cm tall and 8-15 cm in width, dark green
to olive green.
Roots: Fibrous from a short tap root.
Ribs: 12 to14 in adult specimens. Obtuse and somewhat notched.
Areoles: Oval, woolly and hairy when young (with
yellowish felt), later naked.
Radial spines: 8 to 14 about 25-30 mm long, Mostly curved
upward, subulate, base swollen, dark greyish-black
or dark horn coloured with black tips.
Young spines are almost black (with a dark purple base), while older
ones turn grayish.
Central spines: 1 to 8 longer and stouter (approx 30-40 mm long)
similar in colour and shape to the radials.
Flowers: 3-4 cm long, 3,5-5 cm in diameter. Apical, broad
funnel-form, straw coloured to dirty amber-yellow
. Pericarpel and floral tube with wool and bristles.
Fruit: Only about 7-10 mm long, egg-shaped, greenish with thin
wall, opening at maturity from a basal pore.
VARIETIES:
var. straussianus: 20 cm tall and 8-15 cm in diameter with
6-8 central spines, flowers 4 cm in diameter. Origin: San José de Jachal
var. pachoensis: 10 cm tall and 8 cm in diameter 1-2
central spines, flowers 3,5 cm in diameter. Origin: Pachaco.
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Photo of conspecific taxa,
varieties, forms and cultivars of plants
belonging to the Eriosyce
straussiana
complex (This
taxon has lots of synonyms (like most Eriosyce)
whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific Name:
Eriosyce
strausiana (K.Schum.)
Kattermann
In: Eriosyce (Cactaceae):
The genus revised and amplified 1: 117, 1994
Origin: La
Pampa, San Juan and Mendoza, Argentina, South America.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES Appendix II
Synonyms:
- Echinocactus strausianus
K.Schum. 1901
- Pyrrhocactus strausianus
(K.Schum.) A.Berger 1929
- Neoporteria strausiana
(K.Schum.) Donald & G.D.Rowley 1966
Heterotypic synonyms:
- Echinocactus catamarcensis
Spegazzini 1905
- Malacocarpus catamarcensis
(Spegazzini) Britton & Rose 1922
- Pyrrhocactus catamarcensis
(Spegazzini) F. Ritter 1959
- Neoporteria catamarcensis
- Cereus catamarcensis
- Echinopsis catamarcensis
- Echinocactus sanjuanensis
Spegazzini 1905
- Pyrrhocactus sanjuanensis
(Spegazzini) Backeberg 1939
- Neoporteria sanjuanensis
(Spegazzini) Donald & G. D. Rowley 1966
- Malacocarpus sanjuanensis
- Pyrrhocactus strausianus var.
sanjuanensis
- Pyrrhocactus vollianus Backeberg
1957
- Neoporteria volliana (Backeberg)
Donald & G. D. Rowley 1966 Pyrrhocactus pachacoensis
Rausch 1975
- Eriosyce strausiana var. pachacoensis
(Rausch) Kattermann 1994 Pyrrhocactus
platyacanthus F. Ritter 1980
- Pyrrhocactus setiflorus,
- Neoporteria setiflora,
- Pyrrhocactus atrospinosus,
- Neoporteria backebergii
Etymology: Named after Mr. L. Straus (1862-1934), German
merchant and cactus hobbyist in Bruchsal near Baden and co-founder of
the Deutsche Kakteen-Gesellschaft DKG.
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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.
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