Espostoa huanucoensis

Espostoa huanucoensis

Espostoa huanucoensis is a shrubby, tubular growing cactus well adapted to high altitudes. It is closely related to Espostoa lanata and often considered merely a variant of it. The most striking feature of this species is the warm “woolly coat” it possesses, which serve to protect it from the harsh sun common to its native habitat. More precisely the dense woolly bristles benefit the plant by reducing sun exposure and by trapping a layer of air next to the cactus body. This helps to cool the plant in the summer and keep it warm in the winter.
Espostoa huanucoensis BAS Botanical garden,Bulgaria,Espostoa huanucoensis,Geotagged,Spring

Appearance

Habit: It is a shrubby cactus species branching at the base, reaching up to 2-3 m tall.
Stem: Cylindrical, erect or diverging, green, 6-10 cm in diameter.
Ribs: 17-25, low rounded, separated by linear furrows, 5-7 mm high.
Areoles: With yellowish brown felt almost concealed by white or yellowish hairs and spines. The hairs are neatly brushed, cunningly concealing the sharp spines that are a trap to the unwary.
Spines: All radials 30-40, bright golden yellow, needle-like, 0,5-1 cm long.
Lateral cephalia (flower producing structure): Covering 5-8 ribs, 1-2 m long, with white hairs 5-7 mm long.
Flowers: White, nocturnal, funnelform, nearly hidden by the wool, 5,5-7 cm long.
Blooming season: Late spring, early summer.
Fruits: Top shaped, near spherical 2-3,5 cm long, green or purplish-red, very juicy, sweet and edible.
Seeds: Very small, black and shining.

Naming

Synonyms:
Espostoa lanata subs. huanucoensis (F.Ritter) G.J.Charles

Distribution

Origin: Huanuco, Peru.
Altitude: 1800-2200 metres above sea level.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.llifle.net/Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/12852/Espostoa_huanucoensis
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyCactaceae
GenusEspostoa
SpeciesEspostoa huanucoensis
Photographed in
Bulgaria