''Echinopsis'' is a large

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of cacti

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from large and treelike types to small globose cacti. The name derives from ''echinos'' hedgehog or sea urchin, and ''opsis'' appearance, a reference to these plants' dense coverings of spines. They are remarkable for the great size, length of tube, and beauty of their flowers, which, borne upon generally small and dumpy stems, appear much larger and more attractive than would be expected.

Taxonomy

Studies in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in several formerly separate genera being absorbed into ''Echinopsis'': Echinopsis Chamaecereus

Some have proposed merging ''

Rebutia ''Rebutia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, native to Bolivia and Argentina. They are generally small, colorful cacti, globular in form, which freely produce flowers that are relatively large in relation to the body. They ...

'' as well. Like several other taxonomic changes in Cactaceae, this one has not been universally accepted. Amateur and professional growers still use names like ''Echinopsis'' (in the older sense), ''Lobivia'', ''Setiechinopsis'' and ''Trichocereus'', although many of the others listed above fell out of common usage long before the change. Changing the genus name necessitated using some different specific epithets to avoid creating duplicate names. Thus both '' Echinopsis bridgesii'' and ''Trichocereus bridgesii'' previously existed. These are very different plants: ''Echinopsis bridgesii'' is a short clumping cactus, whereas ''Trichocereus bridgesii'' is a tall columnar cactus similar to ''E.'' (or ''T.'') ''pachanoi''. Under the new classification, ''Trichocereus bridgesii'' becomes '' Echinopsis lageniformis''. The genus name ''Trichocereus'' was given to a number of columnar cacti in 1909 by Vincenzo Riccobono, before the genus was subsumed—along with ''Lobivia''—into ''Echinopsis'' in 1974 by Friedrich. A 2012 genetic and morphological study by Albesiano found ''Trichocereus'' to be monophyletic if it included three species of ''Harrisia''. A 2012 genetic analysis of chloroplast DNA indicates ''Echinopsis'' is made up of several divergent lineages. ''E. spachiana'' was not included in the study but is thought to be related to a ''Helianthocereus'' clade. '' Soehrensia'' Backeb. was found to be a separate genus, with synonym ''Helianthocereus'' Backeb.

Species

:Note: some of the species listed below may be synonyms, subspecies, or varieties of others. * '' Echinopsis adolfofriedrichii'' G. Moser * ''

Echinopsis amoenissima ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from lar ...

'' Werdermann * ''

Echinopsis ancistrophora ''Echinopsis subdenudata'' (commonly called domino cactus, night blooming hedgehog, Easter lily cactus) is a species of cactus. It has a globular shape, few spines, with large, white flowers attached to long, green tubes. It occurs in Bolivia, ...

'' Spegazzini * ''

Echinopsis antezanae ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from lar ...

'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * ''

Echinopsis apiculata ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from lar ...

'' Linke * '' Echinopsis arachnacantha'' (Buining & F. Ritter) H.Friedrich * ''

Echinopsis arebaloi ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from la ...

'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis atacamensis'' (Philippi) H. Friedrich & G.D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis aurata'' Salm-Dyck * '' Echinopsis aurea'' Britton & Rose * '' Echinopsis backebergii'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis baldiana'' Spegazzini * '' Echinopsis berlingii'' Y. Ito * '' Echinopsis bertramiana'' (Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis bolligeriana'' Mächler & Helmut Walter * '' Echinopsis bonnieae'' (Halda, Hogan & Janeba) Halda & Malina * '' Echinopsis boyuibensis'' F. Ritter * '' Echinopsis brasilensis'' A. V. Frič * '' Echinopsis bridgesii'' Salm-Dyck (not to be confused with ''E. lageniformis'', which is also known as ''Trichocereus bridgesii'') * '' Echinopsis cabrerae'' (R. Kiesling) G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis caineana'' (Cárdenas) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis cajasensis'' F. Ritter * '' Echinopsis calliantholilacina'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis callichroma'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis calochlora'' K. Schumann * '' Echinopsis campylacantha'' Pfeiffer & Otto * '' Echinopsis cardenasiana'' (Rausch) H. Friedrich * '' Echinopsis cephalomacrostibas'' (Werdermann & Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis cerdana'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis chalaensis'' (Rauh & Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis chamaecereus'' H. Friedrich & W. Glaetzle * '' Echinopsis chereauniana'' Schlumb. * ''

Echinopsis chiloensis ''Echinopsis chiloensis'' is a species of cactus native to South America; genus members are known as ''hedgehog cacti'', ''sea-urchin cactus'' or ''Easter lily cactus''. Description This species, ''E chiloensis'', is tree-like with branching str ...

'' (Colla) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis chrysantha'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis chrysochete'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis cinnabarina'' (Hooker) Labouret * '' Echinopsis clavata'' (F. Ritter) D. R. Hunt * ''

Echinopsis cochabambensis ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of Cactus, cacti native plant, native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 ...

'' Backeberg * '' Echinopsis colmariensis'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis comarapana'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis conaconensis'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis coquimbana'' (Molina) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis coronata'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis cotacajesii'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis crassicaulis'' (R. Kiesling) H. Friedrich & Glaetzle * '' Echinopsis cristata'' Salm-Dyck * '' Echinopsis cuzcoensis'' (Britton & Rose) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis cylindracea'' (Backeberg) Friedrich * '' Echinopsis decaisniana'' Walp. * '' Echinopsis densispina'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis derenbergii'' A. V. Frič * '' Echinopsis deserticola'' (Werdermann) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis escayachensis'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * ''

Echinopsis eyriesii ''Echinopsis eyriesii'' is a species of cactus, cacti of the genus ''Echinopsis''. Habitat Its original habitat is Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and province of Entre Ríos Province, Argentina. It grows in grassy plains or in low hills in lowlan ...

'' Pfeiffer & Otto * '' Echinopsis fabrisii'' (R.Kiesling) G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis famatimensis'' (Spegazzini) Werdermann * '' Echinopsis ferox'' (Britton & Rose) Backeberg * '' Echinopsis friedrichii'' G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis gibbosa'' Pfeiffer * '' Echinopsis gigantea'' Rud. Meyer * '' Echinopsis gladispina'' Y. Ito * '' Echinopsis glauca'' (F. Ritter) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis glaucina'' H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis haematantha'' (Spegazzini) J. G. Lamb. * '' Echinopsis hamatispina'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis hammerschmidii'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis hertrichiana'' (Backeberg) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis hossei'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis huotti'' Labour. * '' Echinopsis hystrichoides'' F. Ritter * '' Echinopsis ibicuatensis'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis imperialis'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis jajoiana'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis jamessianus'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis kladiwaiana'' Rausch * '' Echinopsis klingleriana'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis knotti'' Schlumberger * '' Echinopsis knuthiana'' (Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis korethroides'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis lageniformis'' (Forst.) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley (formerly ''Trichocereus bridgesii'') * '' Echinopsis lamprochlora'' F. A. C. Weber * '' Echinopsis lateritia'' Gürke * '' Echinopsis leucantha'' Walpers * '' Echinopsis litoralis'' (Johow) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley (syn.: ''E.chiloensis'' (Colla) subsp. ''litoralis'' (Johow)Lowry) * '' Echinopsis lorethroides'' Werdermann * ''

Echinopsis macrodiscus ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of Cactus, cacti native plant, native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 ...

'' Frič * '' Echinopsis macrogona'' (S.D.) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis mamillosa'' Gürke * '' Echinopsis marsoneri'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis mataranensis'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis maximiliana'' Heyder * '' Echinopsis melanacantha'' A. Dietr. * '' Echinopsis meyeri'' Heese * '' Echinopsis mieckleyi'' Rud. Meyer * '' Echinopsis mihanovichii'' Frič & Gurcke * '' Echinopsis minuana'' Spegazzini * '' Echinopsis mirabilis'' Spegazzini * '' Echinopsis misleyi'' J. Labouret * '' Echinopsis molesta'' Spegazzini * ''

Echinopsis nigra ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of Cactus, cacti native plant, native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 ...

'' Backeberg * '' Echinopsis nigrispina'' Walp. * '' Echinopsis nodosa'' Linke * '' Echinopsis obrepanda'' (Salm-Dyck) K. Schum. * '' Echinopsis octacantha'' Muehlenpf. * '' Echinopsis oxygona'' Pfeiff. & Otto * ''

Echinopsis pachanoi ''Echinopsis pachanoi'' (syn. ''Trichocereus pachanoi'')—known as San Pedro cactus—is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains at in altitude. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, and it ...

'' (Britton & Rose) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis pampana'' (Britton & Rose) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis pectinata'' Fennel * '' Echinopsis pelecygona'' Y. Ito * '' Echinopsis pentlandii'' (W. J. Hooker) Salm-Dyck ex A. Dietrich * ''

Echinopsis peruviana ''Echinopsis peruviana'' (syn. ''Trichocereus peruvianus''), the Peruvian torch cactus, is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the western slope of the Andes in Peru, between about above sea level. Description The plant is bluish-green i ...

'' (Britton & Rose) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis picta'' Walp. * '' Echinopsis pojoensis'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis pseudomammillosa'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis pugionacantha'' Rose & F. Boedeker * '' Echinopsis pulchella'' Zucc. * '' Echinopsis reichenbachiana'' Pfeiff. * '' Echinopsis rhodotricha'' K. Schumann * '' Echinopsis riviere-de-caraltii'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis robinsoniana'' Werdermann * '' Echinopsis rubescens'' Backeberg * '' Echinopsis salmiana'' F. A. C. Weber * '' Echinopsis salpigophara'' A. C. Lemaire * '' Echinopsis saltensis'' Spegazzini * '' Echinopsis sanguiniflora'' (Backeberg) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis santaensis'' (Rauh & Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis schelhasii'' Pfeiff. & Otto * '' Echinopsis schickendantzii'' F. A. C. Weber * '' Echinopsis schieliana'' (Backeberg) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis schoenii'' (Rauh & Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis schreiteri'' (Castellanos) Werdermann * '' Echinopsis scopa'' Carrière * '' Echinopsis scopulicola'' (F. Ritter) R. Mottram * '' Echinopsis setosa'' Linke * '' Echinopsis silvestrii'' Spegazzini * '' Echinopsis simplex'' Niedl * '' Echinopsis skottsbergii'' (Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis spegazzinii'' K. Schumann * '' Echinopsis sphacelata'' Gravis * '' Echinopsis spinibarbis'' (Otto) A. E. Hoffmann * '' Echinopsis strausii'' Graessn. * '' Echinopsis subdenudata'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis sucrensis'' Cárdenas * '' Echinopsis tacaquirensis'' (Vaupel) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis tacuarembense'' J. Arechavaleta * '' Echinopsis taratensis'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis tarmaensis'' (Rauh & Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis tegeleriana'' (Backeberg) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis tephracantha'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis terscheckii'' (A. A. Parmentier) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis thionantha'' (Spegazzini) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis tiegeliana'' (Wessner) D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis trichosa'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis tricolor'' A. G. Dietrich * '' Echinopsis tuberculata'' Niedt * '' Echinopsis tubiflora'' J. G. Zuccarini * '' Echinopsis tucumanensis'' Y. Ito * ''

Echinopsis tulhuayacensis ''Echinopsis'' is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, ''E. chamaecereus'', is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from lar ...

'' (Ochoa) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis tunariensis'' (Cárdenas) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * ''

Echinopsis uyupampensis ''Echinopsis uyupampensis'', is a species of '' Echinopsis'' found in Bolivia and Peru. Description ''Echinopsis uyupampensis'' grows shrubby with several branches that lie down to ascending. The slim cylindrical shoots have a diameter of up to ...

'' (Backeberg) H. Friedrich & G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis vatteri'' (R. Kiesling) G. D. Rowley * '' Echinopsis verschaffeltii'' Hort. * '' Echinopsis werdermannii'' Frič * '' Echinopsis yuquina'' D. R. Hunt * '' Echinopsis zuccarinii'' Pfeiff. & Otto Many hybrids exist, mostly between similar species but also between more distinct ones, such as the cross between ''E. pachanoi'' and ''E. eyriesii'' which was sold under the name "Trichopsis pachaniesii" by Sacred Succulents.

Distribution

''Echinopsis'' species are native to South America (

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

, Bolivia,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

and

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

). They grow only in situations where the soil is sandy or gravelly, or on the sides of hills in the crevices of rocks.

Cultivation

The growing and resting seasons for ''Echinopsis'' are the same as for ''Echinocactus''. Research by J. Smith (former Curator at the

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,10 ...

) showed that species like the

an ''Echinopsis cristata'' and its Mexican relatives thrive if potted in light loam, with a little leaf mould and a few nodules of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

. The limestone keeps the soil open; it is important that the soil should be well drained. In winter, water must be given very sparingly, and the atmosphere should be dry; the temperature need not exceed during the night, and in very cold weather it may be allowed to fall to , provided a higher temperature of is maintained during the day. In spring, the plants should receive the full influence of the increasing warmth of the sun; and during hot weather, they will be benefited by frequent spraying overhead, which should be done in the evening. The soil should never be saturated, as the soft fibrous roots will rot if kept wet for any length of time. None of the species need to be grafted to grow freely and remain healthy, as the stems are all robust enough and of sufficient size to take care of themselves. The only danger is in keeping the plants too moist in winter, for although a little water now and again keeps the stems fresh and green, it deprives them of that rest which is essential to the development of their large, beautiful flowers in summer.

Gallery

Image:The Botanical Magazine. pl 4521. Cactus.jpg, ''Echinopsis cristata'' var. ''purpurea'' Image:Echinopsis eyriesii.JPG, ''Echinopsis eyriesii'' visited by a European honeybee; Kfar Blum Kibbutz garden, Israel. Image:2008 07 Botanical Garden Meran 71610R0413.jpg, ''Echinopsis huascha'' Botanical Garden

Meran Merano (, , ) or Meran () is a city and ''comune'' in South Tyrol, northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier ...

Image:Echinopsis chiloensis 5.jpg, ''Echinopsis chiloensis'' Image:Echinopsis ferox c-3311 - 01A.jpg, ''Echinopsis ferox'' c-3311 Image:EchinopsisThelegona.jpg, ''Echinopsis thelegona'' Image:Echinopsis backebergii1PAKAL.jpg, ''Echinopsis backebergii'' Image:Echinopsis bruchii Yazz.JPG, ''Echinopsis bruchii'' Image:Echinopsis oxygona13213404.jpg, ''Echinopsis oxygona'' Image:Echinopsis yuquina 1.jpg, ''Echinopsis yuquina'' Image:Echinopsis subdenudata 1.JPG, ''Echinopsis subdenudata'' Image:Echinopsis rojasii (calorubra) 7.JPG, ''Echinopsis obrepanda''

References

Bibliography

* Edward F. Anderson, '' The Cactus Family'' (Timber Press, 2001) , pp. 255–286 * K. Trout, ''Trout's Notes on San Pedro & related Trichocereus species (Sacred Cacti 3rd ed. Part B)'' (Moksha Press, 2005)

External links

Cactus Culture for Amateurs
by W. Watson (1889)
SucculentCity: ''Plant Profiles, Photographs & Cultivation Data''

''Mattslandscape; Echinopsis hybrids-growing culture''

Vimeo Video Echinopsis Cacti in Bloom

echinopsis.com Photographs, Videos

Echinopsis Cacti Flower Photographs, Videos
{{Taxonbar, from=Q131726 Cacti of South America Cactoideae genera Articles containing video clips