Oreocereus trollii
{{Short description|Species of cactus}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Ses Salines - Botanicactus - Oreocereus trollii 03 ies.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN2.3
| image_caption = A mature O. trollii
| genus = Oreocereus
| species = trollii
| authority = (Kupper) Backeb.
| synonyms =
- Borzicactus celsianus var. trollii (Kupper) G.D.Rowley
- Borzicactus trollii (Kupper) Kimnach
- Cereus trollii Kupper
- Echinopsis trollii (Kupper) Anceschi & Magli
- Oreocereus crassiniveus Backeb.
- Oreocereus irigoyenii Frič
- Oreocereus trollii var. crassiniveus (Backeb.) Backeb.
- Oreocereus trollii var. tenuior Backeb.
- Pilocereus trollii Kupper
| synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |title=Oreocereus trollii (Kupper) Backeb. |id=175986-2 |access-date=10 June 2025}}
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/151717/0 |title=Oreocereus trollii |website=www.iucnredlist.org|access-date=2018-07-10}}
Description
Slow growing, O. trollii produces red flowers, typically after reaching several feet in height.{{cite book|author=Graham Charles|title=Cacti and Succulents: An illustrated guide to the plants and their cultivation|date=30 April 2014|publisher=Crowood|isbn=978-1-84797-786-1|page=146}} Oreocereus trollii grows with shoots that branch out from the base, forms small groups and reaches heights of up to {{cvt|50|cm}}. The short, columnar, light green shoots reach a diameter of {{cvt|6 to 10|cm}} 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 {{cvt|7|cm}} long. The resulting spines are yellow, reddish or brown. The strong, subulate three to five central spines are up to {{cvt|5|cm}} long and darker in color at the top. The 10 to 15 radial spines are bristle-like.{{cite book | last=Anderson | first=Edward F. | last2=Eggli | first2=Urs | title=Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon | date=2005 | isbn=3-8001-4573-1 | language=de | page=484.}}
The pink to crimson flowers are up to {{cvt|4|cm}} long. The fruits are spherical.
File:Oreocereus trollii (8073471878).jpg|closeup of spines and hairs
File:Oreocereus trollii 1.jpg| Plants
File:Ses Salines - Botanicactus - Oreocereus trollii 05 ies.jpg| closeup of spines and hairs
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,{{cite book|author=Gynelle Leon|title=Prick: Cacti and Succulents: Choosing, Styling, Caring|date=9 October 2017|publisher=Octopus Books|isbn=978-1-78472-394-1}} 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.{{cite book|author=Tonwen Jones|title=How to Train Your Cactus: A Guide to Raising Well-Behaved Succulents|date=29 May 2018|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=978-1-4494-9467-4|page=104}} The first description as Cereus trollii was made in 1929 by Walter Kupper.{{cite web | title=Au Cactus Francophone : | website=Au Cactus Francophone | url=https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/MDKG/MDKG-1929-5/page-4.de.html | language=fr | access-date=2023-08-25}} Curt Backeberg placed the species in the genus Oreocereus in 1936.{{cite web | title=Au Cactus Francophone : | website=Au Cactus Francophone | url=https://www.cactuspro.com/lecture/Backeberg-Curt/KaktusABC/page-189.en.html | language=fr | access-date=2023-08-25}} Nomenclature synonyms are Borzicactus trollii (Kupper) Kimnach (1960), Echinopsis trollii (Kupper) Anceschi & Magli (2013), Pilocereus trollii Kupper (1929) and Borzicactus celsianus var. trollii (Kupper) G.D.Rowley (1986)
==References==
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Oreocereus trollii|Oreocereus trollii}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Oreocereus trollii|Oreocereus trollii}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1711787}}