Echinopsis eyriesii
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (March 2023) |
| Echinopsis eyriesii | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Echinopsis |
| Species: | E. eyriesii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echinopsis eyriesii | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Echinopsis eyriesii, also known as Eyries Cactus, Easter Lily Cactus or Sea-Urchin Cactus, is a species of cacti of the genus Echinopsis.
Habitat
Echinopsis eyriesii is native to Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Entre Ríos Province, Argentina. It grows in lowland habitats up to 1,000 meters above sea level. In these areas, the climate is tropical and continental. Typically, winters are dry, and summers are rainy in this region. The precipitation reaches 1500 mm a year. The average annual temperature is 25–30°C, rarely dropping below zero degrees.[1]
Name
The species is named after researcher Alexandre Eyries from Le Havre, France.[2]
Description
E. eyriesii is a large caespitose cactus known for its large nocturnal flowers. It is among the most commonly grown globular cacti.
E. eyriseii is globular, elongated, and approximately cylindrical. It typically grows to 15–30 cm high and 12–15 cm thick. In favorable conditions, E. eyriseii may form mounds up to 1.5 m tall and 2–3 m wide. The cactus is dark green and has 9 to 18 ribs, which have circular areoles with 10 to 18 spines each.
Echinopsis eyriesii var. cristata is instead fan-shaped but still has all the other characteristics of E. eyriseii[3]
Its floral stem develops up to 20 cm long over the course of a month. The flowers bloom in the evening of either spring or summer. The flower usually blooms for a day, but may last longer in cold or rainy conditions.[1]
Echinopsis eyriesii var. inermis, or Echinopsis inermis, is a spineless variety.[4]
Cultivation
Echinopsis eyriesii is widely grown for their huge, nocturnal flowers. It needs fertile and well-drained soil with sunlight to grow. It can be grown outdoors year-round in frost-free climates, in a pot or in the ground. It should be watered in summer, but the soil should dry between waterings. The cactus should not be watered in winter so that the flowers bloom. The cultivation temperature may be as low as −7°C. [1]
In the 19th century, Echinopsis eyriesii was extensively hybridized with other Echinopsis and Lobivia species, giving rise to a number of cultivars.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Echinopsis eyriesii".
- ^ "Pink Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis eyriesii)". www.desert-tropicals.com. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Echinopsis eyriesii var. Cristata".
- ^ "Echinopsis eyriesii var. Inermis".
Further reading
- Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
- James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11 August 2011
- David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
External links
