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{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
| image = Cleistocactus strausii Woolly Torch, Huntington Desert Garden.jpg
| image = Cleistocactus strausii Woolly Torch, Huntington Desert Garden.jpg
| image2 = Gardenology.org-IMG 0418 hunt07mar.jpg
⚫
|status = LC
| image2_caption = Lower: [[Huntington Library|Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens]], [[San Marino, California]].
⚫
|status_system = IUCN3.1
⚫
| status = LC
⚫
|status_ref = <ref name="IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 p. ">{{cite journal | title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | journal=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | date=2010-09-21 | url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en | access-date=2023-08-07 | page=}}</ref>
⚫
| status_system = IUCN3.1
⚫
| status_ref = <ref name="IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 p. ">{{cite journal | title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | journal=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | date=2010-09-21 | url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en | access-date=2023-08-07 | page=}}</ref>
| genus = Cleistocactus
| genus = Cleistocactus
| species = strausii
| species = strausii
| authority = (Hesse) Backeb.
| authority = (Hesse) Backeb.
}}
}}


'''''Cleistocactus strausii''''', also called '<nowiki/>'''silver torch'''<nowiki/>' or ''''woolly torch'''<nowiki/>', is an [[evergreen]] [[Succulent plant|succulent]] [[flowering plant]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Cactaceae]]. It is [[native plant|native]] to the mountainous regions of the [[Tarija Department]] in [[Bolivia]], where it grows at elevations between {{convert|1500-3000|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level in the foothills of the [[Andes]].
'''''Cleistocactus strausii''''', also called ''''silver torch'''<nowiki/>' or ''''woolly torch'''<nowiki/>', is an [[evergreen]] [[Succulent plant|succulent]] [[flowering plant]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Cactaceae]]. It is [[native plant|native]] to the mountainous regions of the [[Tarija Department]] in [[Bolivia]], where it grows at elevations between {{convert|1500-3000|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level in the foothills of the [[Andes]].


==Description==
==Description==

Revision as of 21:08, 22 May 2024

Cleistocactus strausii
Lower: Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Cleistocactus
Species:
C. strausii
Binomial name
Cleistocactus strausii
(Hesse) Backeb.

Cleistocactus strausii, also called 'silver torch' or 'woolly torch', is an evergreen succulent flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is native to the mountainous regions of the Tarija Department in Bolivia, where it grows at elevations between 1,500–3,000 m (4,921–9,843 ft) above sea level in the foothills of the Andes.

Description

Cleistocactus strausii matures into a large shrub, with many slender, columnar branches rising from the ground and emerging as lower side shoots off of the columns themselves. The many vertically-growing cacti in a single stand are gray-green and grow up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall, but only about 6 cm (2.5 in) across, and are covered in smallish, somewhat sharp spines. The light-green columns reach a diameter of up to 8 cm (3.1 in) and are completely covered by dense, white hairs. There are 25 to 30 ribs that are densely covered with areoles, supporting four yellow-brown spines each, up to 4 cm (1.5 in) long, in addition to 20 shorter, white radial spines. The roughly four central spines are light yellow and up to 2 centimeters long. The 30 to 40 white radial spines are hairy to bristly and 1.5 to 5 centimeters long.

Older cacti, over 45 cm (17.5 in) tall, produce deep red to burgundy flowers annually, which grow up to 6 cm (2.5 in) long. The cylindrical flowers protrude horizontally and radially from the stem of the cactus. The buds are very densely covered with silky hairs. The pear- to spherical-shaped red fruits reach a diameter of up to 2 centimeters. In common with other cacti in the genus Cleistocactus, the flowers hardly open, with only the style and stamens protruding. They are pollinated by bees, birds and bats, among other insects.


Habitat

Cleistocactus strausii prefers mountainous regions that are dry and semi-arid. Like other cacti and succulents, it thrives in porous soil and full sun. While partial sunlight is the minimum requirement for survival, full sunlight for several hours a day is required for the silver torch cactus to bloom flowers.

Silver torch cacti can thrive in low-nitrogen soils without facing the consequences. Too much water will make the plants weak and lead to root rot.

Conservation status

This cactus is locally abundant in its native land and has few local threats to its survival, so it is rated Least Concern. [1]

Propagation

It can be propagated by cuttings or seed. Cuttings should be taken near the base of the main stem, similar to cuttings for aloe vera. Rooting of this new cutting usually occurs within 3-8 weeks, therefore it is usually better to propagate silver torch cactus via seed.

This cactus prefers free draining soils, strong sunlight, but not high temperatures; in fact it can withstand hard frosts down to −10 °C (14 °F). In its natural habitat it receives plenty of water during the summer, but almost none over the winter. In cultivation, watering too much in winter often leads to root rot.

Cultivated plants often flower freely. In the United Kingdom, this plant is usually grown under glass, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]

Pests

The silver torch cactus is most susceptible to mealybugs and spider mite.

Mealybugs are among the most common pests of cacti and succulents. They can be identified by their white, cottony masses on the plant. These are signs that the bugs are reproducing. These pests are especially problematic because they suck out plant sap, depleting the strength of the plant. They can also cause sooty mold along with their fluffy white wax, detracting from the plants' appearance. Another form of mealybug attacks the root system of plants, which is harder to detect.

Mites thrive in the same hot, dry conditions that the silver torch cactus lives in. Spider mites cause damage by sucking out vital nutrients from the plant. Large populations of mites can cause irreversible damage, eventually killing the plant.

However, both pests can be hosed off with water.

References

  1. ^ a b "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  2. ^ "RHS Plant Selector Cleistocactus strausii AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
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