Cacti of Northern Chile

[RICHAUD]

Islaya islayensis growing south Peru photografied during a travel with Brian Bates

Islaya islayensis sud Atico.jpg (77.58 KiB) Viewed 2603 times

[gerald]

Small growing, real-deal drought resistant cacti are what I like the most so these Eriosyce fit the bill perfectly. Seeds aren't really an option for me at present, I prefer 2-3 year old plants if at all possible, anybody please feel free to pm me with your offers

[DaveW]

I would not describe all Islaya's as small growing, as Richaud's picture shows. Anymore than Neoporteria's or Horridocactus, both now lumped in Eriosyce. I think in some instances Islaya's can get up to 20cm high or taller?

When you cross the border from Chile into Peru the Atacama desert changes it's name to the Clemesi and the Camanchaca mist is then called the Guara, but they are simply a continuation of the same arid coast, just the national nomenclature changed for them.

If you like what the Germans call "earth cacti", those that are low to the ground and often sink into it in the dry season it is the Thelocephala section of Eriosyce (those related to napina, odierii and esmeraldana) which are the low growing ones.

Don't suppose you have any spare E. napina ssp. llanensis do you Dan, that's one I never seem successful from seed?

[CactusFanDan]

Don't suppose you have any spare E. napina ssp. llanensis do you Dan, that's one I never seem successful from seed?

I'm not familiar with that name. I had a bit of a google for more information though and it seems that JA19 is E. napina ssp. llanensis, rather than E. napina ssp. aerocarpa? If that's the case, then I bought some JA19 recently and they're ready to sow whenever I feel like it. I'll let you know how I get on with those.

From my most recent sowing, I've got lots of E. napina ssp. challensis, ssp. lembckei, v. spinosior and v. duripulpa as well as a number of different E. krausii forms, and E. tenebrica. Quite a few different earth cacti.

[DaveW]

Hi Dan,

I said in a post to the Forum in 2011:-

"There were two more "Thelocephala's" described recently by Ingrid Schaub and Ricardo Keim in Cactus & Co. Like most new "Thelocephalas" they are lumped under napina. Both have been distributed as seed by Juan Acosta in the past, though not under the new names.

E. napina ssp. pajonalensis (JA133)

E. napina ssp. llanensis (JA541)"

If you scroll right down near the bottom of this link there are photos of both JA133 and JA541 before the plants were named, by "Pescaomarino", one of the pseudonyms along with "Spiniflores" Juan Acosta used to post under.

http://www.suculentas.es/phpBB3/viewtop ... =20&t=8684

For the "earth cacti" fans try this slide show:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactushorr ... otostream/

[Jens]

Nice thread guys.
Here is a north Chilean cactus (cultivated plants ex De Herdt seeds from different sources)

[Jens]

Growing even more northerly (and more arid)
E. iquiquensis

[RAYWOODBRIDGE]

While we are talking about cacti of Northern Chile, does anyone know if E. taltalensis ssp paucicostata is self fertile.
The reason I ask is, this morning while looking at a second flush of flowers on this plant, I noticed 2 large fruit underneath but I cannot remember another Eriosyce in flower when this plant flowered earlier in the year.

Ray

[iann]

None of the species discussed here is typically self-fertile, but they commonly form prominent empty fruit without pollination. They also cross with just about anything with a remotely similar name. So maybe you'll find some seed in the fruit when it comes loose after a few months, but don't trust what it will grow into.

[RAYWOODBRIDGE]

Thanks Iann.