Description:
Caespitose, with a turnip-like root
Stems: Depressed-globose
20-30 cm high, 5-10 cm across covered with copious wool at the
apex, particularly at flowering time.10-15 cm in
diameter that branches profusely, forming large clumps up 1 m large
and 60cm
high.
Ribs: There about 13 tuberculate ribs with a rounded, raised edge
and a wide base.
Areoles: Apical, 5-8 mm diam, depressed
or convex, covered with short wool when young, later glabrous
about 0,5-0,8 cm, 2 cm apart.
Spines: Radials: 8-10 fairly slender or slightly curved
horizontal, honey-amber, brown or black becoming gray with age;
centrals: absent or one or two
thicker up to 3cm long.
Roots: Roots-strong, long, thick, narrower at top.
Flowers: campanulate 3 cm long and grow from the center of the
white wool at the apex. Outer segments of the perianth are linear and
greenish; inner segments are wide, blunt and yellow
Cultivation:
Very slow growing, need full sun but should be protected from excessive
heat and sun in summer. Require 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 and
cultivars of Copiapoa pendulina
(This taxon has lots of synonyms (like
most Copiapoa) whit several controversial
varieties and subspecies):
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