Oreocereus trollii

Oreocereus trollii, commonly known as the Old Man of the Andes cactus, is a species of cacti native to Argentina and Bolivia. Though listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the plant is collected extensively, and in some areas is threatened.

Description

Slow growing, O. trollii produces red flowers, typically after reaching several feet in height. Oreocereus trollii grows with shoots that branch out from the base, forms small groups and reaches heights of up to. The short, columnar, light green shoots reach a diameter of and are densely wrapped in wool. There are 15 to 25 strongly tuberous ribs. The white areoles on it are covered with wool up to long. The resulting spines are yellow, reddish or brown. The strong, subulate three to five central spines are up to long and darker in color at the top. The 10 to 15 radial spines are bristle-like.
The pink to crimson flowers are up to long. The fruits are spherical.

Distribution

Oreocereus trollii is distributed in the Bolivian departments of Chuquisaca, Oruro, Potosí and Tarija and in the Argentine province of Jujuy in the puna vegetation at altitudes of 3000 to 4000 meters.

Taxonomy

Named after Wilhelm Troll, its common name comes from the abundant white hairs surrounding the plant which serve to protect it from scorching sunlight and frosts in its mountain habitat. The first description as Cereus trollii was made in 1929 by Walter Kupper. Curt Backeberg placed the species in the genus Oreocereus in 1936. Nomenclature synonyms are Borzicactus trollii Kimnach, Echinopsis trollii Anceschi & Magli, Pilocereus trollii Kupper and Borzicactus celsianus var. trollii G.D.Rowley