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

T. chiloensis var.eburneus is a fiercely spiny cactus with impressive and showy ivory spines.
 

This is the stouter spined form of T. chiloensis, nowadays this plant is not considered a distinct variety but only one of the variable phenotypes of this this clinal species.

Growth Habits: T. chiloensis var.eburneus is a fiercely spiny cactus. It develops into a shrub or small tree.
Stem: Rarely single, usually of several branches, sometimes of many, arising from near the base, starting nearly at right angles to the main trunk but soon erect, up to 8 m tall, stems 10-12.5 cm in diameter ; 10 to 17 low and broad ribs, separated by narrow intervals, divided into large tubercles even when fully mature.
Areoles/Spines: Areoles large whitish, 2 cm apart. Spines yellowish with brown tips, at least when young, greyish later; 1 to 4 centrals, porrect, often stout, 5-7 cm (or even 12 cm); 8 to 12 radials, up to 4 cm long.
Flowers: Nocturnal 14 cm. long, outer perianth-segments white but tinged with red or brown; inner perianth-segments white, acuminate.
Sun Exposure: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun.

Taxonomical notes:
The original name   for this cactus was Trichocereus chiloensis. In 1950, Skottsberg pointed that the name was misspelled, and was changed to "chilensis" for "Chile"+"ensis". The rules of nomenclature now, give priority to the original name, misspelling included, except if the name was changed by the original author. Thus, Friedrich & Rowley retained chiloensis when they included the genus Trichocereus into the genus Echinopsis.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Lobivia (Echinopsis) pentlandii .
 Of plants belonging to the Lobivia... complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms (like most Lobivia) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• Trichocereus chiloensis
• Trichocereus chiloensis var. eburneus
• Trichocereus chiloensis var. borealis

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Scientific name: Trichocereus chiloensis (Colla) Britton & Rose, The Cactaceae; descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family 2: 137-139, f. 199-200, 1920

Origin: North-Central Valley of Chile, from Curico to Puenta Colorado.

Synonyms:

• Echinopsis chiloensis (Colla) Friedrich & Rowley
• Cereus chilensis var. quisco,
• Trichocereus chiloensis var. zizkaanus,
• Cereus quisco,
• Trichocereus chiloensis var. quisco,
• Cereus chiloensis var. funkianus,
• Trichocereus funkii,
• Cereus funkii, Trichocereus chiloensis var. funkii,
• Cereus chiloensis var. eburneus,
• Eulychnia eburnea,
• Cereus chiloensis,
• Trichocereus chilensis,
• Cactus chiloensis,
• Trichocereus chiloensis var. eburneus,
• Cereus chiloensis var. zizkaanus
• Trichocereus chilensis (Colla) Fric & Kreuz. 1935
• Trichocereus chilensis var. eburneus (Phil.) W.T.Marshall 1941

The beautiful fang-like spines grow up from big felty areoles.

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