Horridocactus echinus

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Horridocactus echinus (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Descr. Cact. Nov. iii. 7 (1963)
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) 119 (1994)

Horridocactus echinus (Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
(a white flowering specimen) It is a fiercely spined Eriosyce from coastal Chile (The Atacama desert).

Origin and Habitat: Northern Chile II Region, Atacama, Antofagasta
Altitude: 50-300 above sea level
Habitat: Coastal areas, with coastal fog (camanchaca). The plants obtain water mainly from condensation.

Synonyms:

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce paucicostata subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Horridocactus echinus (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria curvispina var. echinus (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria echinus (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Neoporteria paucicostata var. echinus (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus echinus F.Ritter

See all synonyms of Eriosyce taltalensis

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Eriosyce taltalensis (Hutchison) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) 119 (1994)
Synonymy: 82

Eriosyce taltalensis (Hutchison) Katt.

Neochilenia hankeana var. taltalensis Backeb.
Neochilenia taltalensis (Hutchison) Backeb.
Neoporteria hankeana var. taltalensis (Backeb.) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria taltalensis Hutchison
Pyrrhocactus taltalensis (Hutchison) F.Ritter

Eriosyce ebenacantha (Monv. ex Labour.)

Chilenia ebenacantha (Monv. ex Labour.) Backeb.
Echinocactus ebenacanthus Monv. ex Labour.
Hildmannia ebenacantha (Monv. ex Labour.) Kreuz. & Buining
Neochilenia ebenacantha (Monv. ex Labour.) Backeb.
Neoporteria ebenacantha (Monv. ex Labour., Labour.) Oehme

Eriosyce ebenacantha var. minor (Oehme)

Echinocactus ebenacanthus var. minor Labour.
Neoporteria ebenacantha var. minor Oehme

Eriosyce eriocephala (Backeb.)

Neochilenia eriocephala Backeb.
Neoporteria eriocephala (Backeb.) Donald & G.D.Rowley

Eriosyce fobeana (Mieckley)

Chilenia fobeana (Mieckley) Backeb.
Hildmannia fobeana (Mieckley) Kreuz. & Buining
Neochilenia fobeana (Mieckley) Backeb. ex Dölz
Neoporteria fobeana (Mieckley) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
Neoporteria fobeanus Mieckley
Neoporteria jussieui var. fobeana (Mieckley) Donald & G.D.Rowley

Eriosyce glaucescens (F.Ritter)

Neochilenia glaucescens (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neochilenia napina var. glaucescens (F.Ritter) Y.Itô
Neochilenia paucicostata var. glaucescens (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Neoporteria eriocephala var. glaucescens (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria paucicostata var. glaucescens (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus glaucescens F.Ritter

Eriosyce gracilis (F.Ritter)

Neochilenia gracilis (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria calderana f. gracilis (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria gracilis F.Ritter
Neoporteria intermedia f. gracilis (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus gracilis F.Ritter

Eriosyce hankeana (C.F.Först. ex Rümpler)

Echinocactus hankeanus C.F.Först. ex Rümpler
Neochilenia hankeana (C.F.Först. ex Rümpler) Dölz
Neoporteria hankeana (C.F.Först. ex Rümpler) Donald & G.D.Rowley

Eriosyce hankeana var. minor (Oehme) Backeb.

Neochilenia hankeana var. minor (Oehme) Backeb.
Neoporteria hankeana var. minor (Labour.) Donald & G.D.Rowley

Eriosyce intermedia (F.Ritter)

Neochilenia intermedia (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria intermedia (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus intermedius F.Ritter

Eriosyce neofusca (Backeb.)

Neochilenia neofusca Backeb.

Eriosyce neohankeana (F.Ritter)

Neoporteria neohankeana (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Neoporteria paucicostata var. neohankeana (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus neohankeanus F.Ritter

Eriosyce pulchella (Backeb.)

Neochilenia pulchella Backeb.
Neoporteria intermedia var. pulchella (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus pulchellus (Backeb.) F.Ritter

Eriosyce rupicola (F.Ritter)

Neochilenia rupicola (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria rupicola (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus rupicola F.Ritter

Eriosyce scoparia (F.Ritter)

Horridocactus scoparius F.Ritter
Neochilenia scoparia (F.Ritter) Backeb. in Backeb.
Neoporteria intermedia var. scoparia (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Neoporteria scoparia (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus scoparia (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus scoparius F.Ritter

Eriosyce taltalensis var. pygmaea (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce pygmaea (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. pygmaea (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Neochilenia pygmaea (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria intermedia f. pygmaea (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus pygmaeus F.Ritter

Eriosyce taltalensis var. transiens (F.Ritter)

Neoporteria taltalensis var. transiens (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Neoporteria transiens (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Pyrrhocactus transiens F.Ritter

Eriosyce tenuis (F.Ritter)

Pyrrhocactus tenuis F.Ritter

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) 119 (1994)
Synonymy: 21

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce paucicostata subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Horridocactus echinus (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria curvispina var. echinus (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria echinus (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Neoporteria paucicostata var. echinus (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus echinus F.Ritter

Eriosyce taltalensis var. echinus f. minor (F.Ritter)

Horridocactus echinus var. minor (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria curvispina var. echinus f. minor (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Neoporteria curvispina f. minor (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus echinus var. minor F.Ritter
Pyrrhocactus floccosus var. minor (F.Ritter) F.Ritter

Eriosyce taltalensis var. floccosa (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce paucicostata var. floccosa (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus var. floccosa (F.Ritter) Katt.
Neochilenia floccosa (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria echinus var. floccosa (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Neoporteria floccosa (F.Ritter) Lodé
Neoporteria paucicostata var. floccosa (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Pyrrhocactus floccosus F.Ritter

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata (F.Ritter) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) (Succ. Pl. Res., 1): 119 (1994)
Synonymy: 32

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata (F.Ritter) Katt.

Eriosyce paucicostata (F.Ritter) Ferryman
Horridocactus paucicostatus F.Ritter
Neochilenia paucicostata (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria paucicostata (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus paucicostatus (F.Ritter) F.Ritter

Delaetia woutersiana Backeb.

Neoporteria woutersiana (Backeb.) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus neohankeanus f. woutersianus (Backeb.) F.Ritter

Eriosyce cachytayensis hort.

Neoporteria cachytayensis hort.
Pyrrhocactus cachytayensis hort.

Eriosyce fusca (Muehlenpf.)

Chilenia fusca (Muehlenpf.) Backeb.
Echinocactus fuscus Muehlenpf.
Hildmannia fusca (Muehlenpf.) Kreuz. & Buining
Neochilenia fusca (Muehlenpf.) Backeb.
Neoporteria fusca Britton & Rose
Nichelia fusca (Muehlenpf.) Bullock
Pyrrhocactus fuscus (Muehlenpf.) F.Ritter

Eriosyce neohankeana var. densispina (F.Ritter)

Pyrrhocactus neohankeanus var. densispinus F.Ritter

Eriosyce neohankeana var. elongata (F.Ritter)

Pyrrhocactus neohankeanus var. elongatus F.Ritter

Eriosyce neohankeana var. flaviflora (F.Ritter)

Neochilenia flaviflora (F.Ritter) Y.Itô
Pyrrhocactus neohankeanus var. flaviflorus F.Ritter

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata f. viridis (F.Ritter)

Horridocactus paucicostatus var. viridis F.Ritter
Neochilenia paucicostata var. viridis (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria paucicostata var. viridis (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus paucicostatus var. viridis (F.Ritter) F.Ritter

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. pilispina (F.Ritter) Katt.
Eriosyce (Cactac.) gen. revis. & ampl. (Succ. Pl. Res., 1) 119 (1994)
Synonymy: 5

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. pilispina (F.Ritter) Katt.

Neochilenia pilispina (F.Ritter) Backeb.
Neoporteria intermedia var. pilispina (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
Neoporteria pilispina (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley
Pyrrhocactus pilispinus F.Ritter

Cultivars (1):

Delaetia woutersiana cv. Thin Petals (Backeb.)

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Common Names include:
SPANISH (Español): Pocas Costillas, Peludin

Description: Eriosyce taltalensisSN|3017]]SN|3017]] subsp. echinusis a solitary, fiercely spined cactus with variable spine size and white wool on top. It distinguishes from the standard Eriosyce taltalensisSN|3017]]SN|3017]] for the stouter fierce spination and flowers that are usually white below, fuchsia red above, and comprises two varieties. var. echinus that has stem tips with short wool and var. floccosa that has stem tips with long tufts of wool.
Stem: Globose, 8 to 15 or more cm in diameter and tall ( in cultivation it is subglobose to elongate and may slowly reach an height of 20 or more cm). Dark green, tan to grey-purple tinged stem and conspicuously woolly at apex.
Fibrous, arising from a short, conical tap-root.
Ribs: Up to 13, notched, forming tubercles with sunken areoles.
Spines: Juvenile specimens have only few spines, but the numbers increase as they get older, and areoles can have over 20 spines on mature specimens. They are straight or curved, dark brown to black, soon becoming chalky-white or greyish.
Radial spines: 6 to 12, 3 to 20 mm long.
Central spines: 6 to 12, 20 to 40 mm long.
Flowers: From apical areoles, narrow campanulate or funnel-shaped, about 3 cm in diameter. The colour comprises red, fuchsia, pink, creamy white and yellowish. Floral tube with abundant white wool and twisted bristles. There might be over 50 flowers on a mature specimen (only mature specimens bloom).
Fruits: Reddish, elongate, opening by a basal pore.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Eriosyce taltalensis group

Delaetia woutersiana Backeb.: has bristly more or less tortuous spines (= Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata). Distribution: Antofagasta?
Delaetia woutersiana cv. Thin Petals (Backeb.): is an odd (monstrous) cultivars with very fine petals, cut into shreds. The flowers look quite different, but nice and bi-coloured, yellow and orange-red.
Eriosyce cachytayensis hort.: Possibly a synonym of Eriosyce taltalensis, Erisyce paucicostata or Eriosyce neohankeana. Origin: Unknown.
Eriosyce eriocephala (Backeb.): It may be recognized for the long white hairs under the flowers (particularly conspicuous in mature flowering specimens).
Eriosyce intermedia (F.Ritter): Smaller form very similar, if not the same, to Eriosyce taltalensis var. pygmaea. Distribution: Chañaral.
Eriosyce pulchella (Backeb.): Smaller form with white to pink flowers. It is not easily distingushable from Eriosyce taltalensis var. pygmaea. Distribution: Chañaral to Caldera.
Eriosyce taltalensis (Hutchison) Katt.: (subsp. taltalensis) it is a variable species that has straight spines, red, pink, cream, or white flowers, and comprises two varieties. var. taltalensis has red or cream flowers; var. pygmaea has white or pink flowers.
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. echinus (F.Ritter) Katt.: is a fiercely spined species, that has flowers white below, fuchsia red above, and comprises two varieties. var. echinus has stem tips with short wool; var. floccosa has stem tips with long tufts of wool.
Eriosyce taltalensis var. floccosa (F.Ritter) Katt.: has stem tips with long tufts of wool.
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata (F.Ritter) Katt.: has grey-blue or grey-purple stems often cylindrical 6-8 cm in diameter and 15-30cm long with only 8-12 ribs. Flowers pale pink, cream-white or pale yellowish.
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostata f. viridis (F.Ritter): The “viridis” form has grass green bodies with 10-13 ribs (whereas the standard form generally has grey-blue-green or grey-purple tinged stems) .
Eriosyce taltalensis subs. pilispina (F.Ritter) Katt.: has twisted spines and white flowers.
Eriosyce taltalensis var. pygmaea (F.Ritter) Katt.: has smaller stems and distinctive pale white to pink flowers. Distribution: North of Chañaral.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) "Succulent Plant Research" Volume 1, David Hunt, Richmond 1994, page. 117.
5) Fred Kattermann “Eriosyce (Cactaceae): The Genus Revised and Amplified” David Hunt, 1994
6) Hutchison, Cactus & Succulent Journal of America (Los Angeles) 27: 181-182 1955.
7) Faundez, L., Guerrero, P., Saldivia, P. & Walter, H.E. 2013. Eriosyce paucicostata. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 June 2014.