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  Copiapoa paposoensis
(Syn: Copiapoa humilis)
 

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Copiapoa paposoensis FR1148 22km North of Paposo, 02 Antofagasta, Chile 1300m
 

Description: Solitary, rarely offsetting of its own.
Stem: Hemispherical, 6-12 cm in diameter, grass-green, bluish-green, or somewhat grey-green, or rarely red-brown, as is common for the tender-bodied Copiapoa humilis.  The stem is also harder than that of the Copiapoa humilis. The crown is somewhat depressed, with white woolly felt.
Root: Massive, thickened rootstock going well down into the ground, with a long narrow neck.
Ribs: 9-16.
Flowers: Yellow,
campanulate, scented, about 30 mm long, growing from the center of the white wool at the apex.
Seeds: 1,5 mm wide, black.

The identification of the true 'paposoensis' may concern a degree of uncertainty as to what this plant is, and many plants found in cultivation are Copiapoa humilis ssp. humilis.


 

 

 

 

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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Copiapoa paposoensis RITTER
Original Description: KaKteen in Südamerica. 3:  1980

Origin:  Atacama desert in Northern Chile, Depart. Taltal, restricted to a relatively small area from near Paposo to the north near Blanco Encalada. (Type locality: about 20 km north of Paposo)

Habitat: Grows at about 1100 m altitude where constantly sunny weather prevails, together with a great aridity over the misty zone, while in the misty zone lying at a lower level in the same place  the Copiapoa humilis grows. From there it extends up to 1300m where the complete desert begins. No hybrids are found between the two sorts, although the distribution area for both sorts overlap slightly.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:  

  • Copiapoa humilis (Phil.) Hutchison
  • Echinocactus humilis Phil
  • Copiapoa paposoensis F.Ritter
  • Copiapoa humilis var. paposoensis
  • Copiapoa humilis ssp. varispinata (Ritter) Hunt
  • Copiapoa humilis ssp. variispinata 'paposoensis'
 

Cultivation: Slow growing, it need fulls sun but should be protected from excessive heat and sun in summer. Requires light watering and good drainage. Keep warm and dry in winter to avoid rot.  It needs mild heat in winter;  avoid any frost.
Propagation: Seeds  or or stems planted as cuttings.  Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in collection.


Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms of plants belonging to the Copiapoa humilis/taltalensis complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms (like most copiapoas) with several controversial varieties and subspecies):

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.