Eulychnia castanea fa varispiralis cristata (though it may be named otherwise)
This isan inimitable cactus freak characterized by fan-like sculptural shapes, this form is very rare and prized.
 

Description: This odd plant is known in cultivation under quite a lot of different names (among them, "spiralis", "varispiralis", "spiraliforme", "mostruosa", "monstrose",  "monstrous" ) It is a variable cultivar of which  we can distinguish at least four basic growing forms:

1. Columnar monstrous form: Characterized by a lumpy-bumpy monstrous surface, this is the more common form, about 60-75% of the new branch shows this monstrous morphology.
2. Columnar discoidal form:  Characterized by green discs placed one on top of another in a heap. Only 20-30% of branches develop the typical discs.
3. Columnar spiral form: Characterized by curly, whirly spiral growth that can be equally dextrorotatory or levorotatory,  this form is very appreciated by collectors but comparatively rare (about 5-15% of shots shows this admirable feature)
4. Crested form:  Characterized by fan-like sculptural shapes comprising mix of the previously types, this form is very rare and prized.

NOTE: All this form are only growing variant of the same clone, each new branch must show one (or a mix) of the four growing mode and each plant is unique and different.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Eulychnia castanea.

• Eulychnia castanea varispiralis "cristata"
• Eulychnia castanea varispiralis "discoidal form"
• Eulychnia castanea varispiralis "mostruosa"

Scientific name: Eulychnia castanea (K.Schum.) Philippi
forma varispiralis cristata  

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

• Eulychnia mostruosa  v. spiraliforme
• Eulychnia aurata f. monstrosa cristata
• Eulychnia spiralis
• Eulychnia varispiralis

An  crested shoot grafted on a "more common" spiral stem.