Leucostele chiloensis

{{speciesbox

|image = Trichocereus chiloensis 1.jpg

|genus = Leucostele

|species = chiloensis

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref ={{cite journal | last=Chile) | first=Universidad de | last2=Assessment) | first2=Helmut Walter (Global Cactus | last3=Assessment) | first3=Luis Faundez (Global Cactus | title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | journal=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | date=2011-05-04 | url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/151864/121445892 | access-date=2023-08-25 | page=}}

|authority = (Colla) Schlumpb.

|synonyms ={{collapsible list|

Cactus chiloensis {{small|Colla ex Steud.}}
Cereus chiloensis {{small|DC.}}
Trichocereus chiloensis {{small|(Colla) Britton & Rose}}
Cactus chilensis {{small|Colla}}
Cereus coquimbanus {{small|DC.}}
Cereus fulvibarbis {{small|Otto & A.Dietr.}}
Cereus panoplaeatus {{small|Cels ex Salm-Dyck}}
Cereus pycnacanthus {{small|Salm-Dyck}}
Cereus quintero {{small|Pfeiff.}}
Cereus zizkaanus {{small|(K.Schum.) Schelle}}
Echinocereus chiloensis {{small|(Colla) Console & Lem.}}
Echinopsis chiloensis var. eburnea {{small|(Phil.) Friedrich & G.D.Rowley}}
Eulychnia eburnea {{small|Phil. ex K.Schum.}}[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2783340 Echinopsis chiloensis en PlantList]

}}}}

Leucostele chiloensis is a species of cactus native to South America; genus members are known as hedgehog cacti, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus.

Description

This species, L chiloensis, is tree-like with branching structures, straight, vigorous and up to 8 meters long. The shoots are cylindrical, 10 to 12 cm in diameter, and have 16 to 17 mostly low and wide ribs, usually low and wide. The glochids have bright yellow spines that later turn gray. The central spine is straight and is 4-7 (rarely up to 20) cm long. The radial spines of lateral emission are 8 to 12, and measure 1 to 2 cm or more. The funnel-shaped flowers are white and open during the day. They are up to 14 cm long. The fruits are spherical, green and edible.Edward F. Anderson. 2001 An example occurrence is within the La Campana National Park in Chile.C. Michael Hogan. 2008

File:Sector Palmar de Ocoa.jpg| Adult plant at La Campana National Park

File:Matorral de Puya y Echinopsis chiloensis Parque Nacional La Campana.JPG| Habitat in La Campana National Park

File:Palmar de Ocoa 06.jpg

File:CactusChile.jpg|Spines

File:Tristerix aphyllus flowers.jpg| Tristerix aphyllus parasitizing an Leucostele chiloensis

File:Trichocereus chiloensis 3.jpg|Flower

Distribution

Leucostele chiloensis is found from the north to the south of central Chile, where it grows in coastal areas as well as in valleys and foothills of the Andes at elevations up to 1800 meters. The species was first described as Cactus chiloensis and published in 1826 by Luigi Colla. After several recombinations, Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Douglas Rowley placed it in the genus Echinopsis in 1974.{{cite book|last=Rowley|first=Gordon|title=Reunion of the Genus Echinopsis|publisher=Crown Publishing|location=New York|year=1978|volume=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Succulents|isbn=978-0-517-53309-3}}

References

Edward F. Anderson. 2001. The cactus family, Timber Press, 776 pages
C. Michael Hogan. 2008. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121017013207/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=82831 Chilean Wine Palm: Jubaea chilensis, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg]

chiloensis

Category:Cacti of South America

Category:Endemic flora of Chile

Category:Flora of the Chilean Matorral

Category:Flora of northern Chile