Leucostele 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, L chiloensis, is tree-like with branching structures, straight, vigorous and 1 to 6 meters long. The shoots are cylindrical, 10 to 25 cm in diameter, and have 11 to 17 mostly low and wide ribs, usually low and wide. The glochids have bright yellow spines that later turn gray. The central spine is straight and is 4-7 (rarely up to 20) cm long. The radial spines of lateral emission are 8 to 12, and measure 1 to 2 cm or more. The funnel-shaped flowers are white and open during the day. They are up to 14 cm long. The fruits are spherical, green 2 to 4 cm in length and 3 to 5 cm in diameter and edible. The fruit is covered with subulate scales and abundant brown and gray hairs An example occurrence is within the La Campana National Park in Chile.C. Michael Hogan. 2008
Subspecies There are five recognized subspecies: Image Subspecies Description DistributionLeucostele chiloensis subsp. australis Tall-growing plants exceeding 2 m in height. The stems reach a diameter of between 13 and 25 cm. They feature gray spines with brown tips on the subapical areoles. Between 7 and 10 radial spines can be distinguished on the mature areoles. Central Chile Leucostele chiloensis subsp. borealis Tall plants exceeding 2 m in height. They bear very long spines, up to 25 cm in length. Chile (Coquimbo)Leucostele chiloensis subsp. chiloensis Tall plants exceeding 2 m in height. The stems reach a diameter of between 9 and 10 cm. North and Central ChileLeucostele chiloensis subsp. eburneus Tall plants exceeding 2 m in height. The stems reach a diameter of between 13 and 25 cm. They feature white spines on the subapical areoles. Between 11 and 13 radial spines can be distinguished on the mature areoles.Chile (Coquimbo) Leucostele chiloensis subsp. panhoplites Low-growing plants, 1 to 1.5 m tall. Forms dense, ascending shrubs.Chile (Coquimbo)
Distribution Leucostele chiloensis is found from the north to the south of central Chile, where it grows in coastal areas as well as in valleys and foothills of the Andes at elevations up to 1800 meters. The species was first described as Cactus chiloensis and published in 1826 by Luigi Colla. After several recombinations, Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Douglas Rowley placed it in the genus Echinopsis in 1974.
Taxonomy This species was first described as Cactus chiloensis in 1826 by the Italian botanist Luigi Aloysius Colla. The species name chiloensis originates from Isla Grande de Chiloé in Chile. However, this was based on an incorrect assumption about where the species is native and Chiloé is well South of its actual range. The Latin suffix "-ensis" is typically used in scientific names to denote geographical origin. Although "chilenis" (meaning "Chilean") is often used informally, the original spelling chiloensis is legally fixed. This is because the International Code of Nomenclature states that once a scientific name is officially published, it cannot be changed. In 2012 Boris O. Schlumpberger transferred the species to the genus Leucostele.Boris O. Schlumpberger: New combinations in the Echinopsis alliance. In: Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives. Nr. 28, 2012, S. 30.
References
C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Chilean Wine Palm: Jubaea chilensis, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
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