Echinopsis pentlandii


Echinopsis pentlandii, synonyms including Lobivia pentlandii, is a species of Echinopsis found in Bolivia and Peru.

Description

Echinopsis pentlandii usually grows in groups with spherical to ovoid, bright green and often glaucous shoots that reach a diameter of up to around 12 centimeters. The shoot apex is often sunken. There are twelve to 15 high ribs that are deeply notched and divided into long, hatchet-shaped, sharp-edged cusps. The areoles on it are about 2 centimeters apart. Variable thorns emerge from them. The single central spine, which can also be missing, is 3 to 9 centimeters long. The backward curved 5 to 15 marginal spines are yellowish brown and are up to 3 centimeters long.
The short, funnel-shaped flowers open during the day and are variable in flower color. It ranges from slightly purple-pink to red, orange or yellow. The flower throat is often lighter. The flowers are 4 to 6 centimeters long. Its very strong flower tube reaches a diameter of up to 1 centimeter. The spherical, juicy, sticky fruits have a diameter of 1 to 1.2 centimeters.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by William Jackson Hooker in 1844 as Echinocactus pentlandii. The specific epithet pentlandii honors the Irish geographer and naturalist Joseph Barclay Pentland. In 1846, the species was transferred to the genus Echinopsis. In 1922, Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Lobivia., Plants of the World Online restored the species to Echinopsis. The species has many other synonyms, including a large number of varieties not accepted by Plants of the World Online.

Distribution

Echinopsis pentlandii is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Cusco and Puno and the Bolivian departments of La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba and Potosí in the high altitudes of the Andes.