Erectus (sesquipedalis)columnari-cyclindraceus 12-14 sulcatus spiraliter tortus (nunc proliferus), angulis sulcisque acutis, areolis approximatis nudis (lana nulla) 8-aculeatis, aculeis fuscis rectis 7 patenti-radiatis mediocribus, unico centrali triplo majore verticali, floribus 3-4 terminalibus vix spinas superantibus flavis, petalis spathulato-lanceolatis, stigmatibus 9-12 linearibus staminibus longioribus.

(From the Latin).

Erect (one and a half feet high) columnar-cylindric 12-14 furrowed spirally twisted (now offsetting), with angled and acute grooves, areoles close together, naked (lacking wool) 8-spined, spines dark brown straight with 7 wide spreading radiating of moderate length, single central three times as long, perpendicular, with 3-4 terminal yellow flowers, rising above the spines with difficulty, petals spathulate-lanceolate, stigma with 9-12 parallel-sided, short, narrow, stigma lobes longer than the stamens.

A very distinct species of the genus Echinocactus, if we judge it from the flowers; but almost a Cereus in the elongated habit of the plant, which we purchased from Mr. Bridges, who had brought it from Bolivia. We find nothing like it anywhere described, and have named it from the remarkably spirally twisted character of the stem, without, however, holding ourselves responsible that this is a constant or permanent mark of distinction. lt flowered in the Cactus-house of the Royal Gardens (Kew H.M.), in August 1845.

Our plant is a foot and a half high, erect, columnar, cylindrical or a little contracted towards the base, occasionally proliferous, obtuse and woolly at the top, the sides fluted with twelve to fourteen spirally twisted, rather acute ribs, the furrows also acute. Areoles densely crowded, often almost touching one another, and forming a nearly orbicular dark­coloured disc, free from wool, and bearing generally eight straight, palish brown spines: of these, seven outer are nearly equal, half an inch long, forming a spreading ray, while from the centre, one spine, twice or thrice the size of the rest, stands out vertically. From the woolly crown on the summit appear three or four yellow flowers, scarcely rising above the wool and not so long as the spines, an inch or an inch and a quarter in diameter, entirely of a sulphur-yellow. Petals lanceolato-spathulate. Stamens numerous. Anthers sub-globose. Style as long as the stamens. Stigma of many linear spreading rays. W.J.H.

Cultivation. From some peculiarity in the nature of the Cactus region of Chile and Bolivia, we find that Cactae imported from these countries do not so readily conform themselves to the artificial modes of cultivation to which they are necessarily subjected in this country, as allied species from Mexico. This is more especially the case with the Echinocactae. We learn that they inhabit very arid and hot places, enduring extreme drought, which is very obvious from the harsh, dry, and often dead-like appearance they present when they arrive in this country. The species now figured was introduced with many others about six years ago, by Mr. Bridges, and on inquiring of him the nature of their places of growth, and what mode he would recommend as best for cultivating them in this country, the point on which he laid the greatest stress was to give them no water. But we find that even harsh, dry-looking Cactae are, like many other dry-climate plants, capable of assuming a freer habit of growth by good treatment; the difference of the growth they make in this country, as compared with that of their native country, is so great, that the top and lower part of the same plant, if separated, might be taken as two distinct species. lt is probable that many cacti from dry regions when placed under the influence of a climate more favourable to vegetable development, will assume a different aspect, varying according to the degree of heat and moisture they receive. In habit this species approaches Cereus reductus, figured in Tab. 4443, and what is there stated as regards cultivation is suitable for this species. J.S.

Comments
from E. W. Bentley

Early in 1970 I paid a visit to Sargant in the Isle of Wight. At that time he had a fairly good selection of imported plants for sale and amongst those which I selected for purchase was a Copiapoa bridgesii SH 829 from "North of Caldera.“ This plant was about 3½“ in diameter and some 4“ high, with a distinctive elongated-globular appearance, with a fairly smooth, bright green body divided into ten vertical ribs. There is a faint narrow groove running vertically between the base of the ribs. The areoles were so close together that they were quite touching, all the way from base to apex of the rib. The areoles were black, but this would be just dirt and mould of course. The crown was covered with a cushion of wool, the central spines were about 3 cm. long, stout, round, tapering,standing out almost perpendicular to the body, the radials being shorter and spreading. With the confluent areoles, the outstanding central spines, and the radial spines not overlapping from one rib to the next, it looked rather like the plant figured by Britton & Rose, Vol. III Figure 99.

The plant established itself with no apparent difficulty arid has about doubled in height whilst remaining more or less the same diameter so that it became distinctly columnar. The new growth continued to be very similar to the habitat growth, with a bright green body and vertical ribs; the areoles still touch each other, the central spines are just as long and stout and still stand straight out from the body, so that now the plant is taller it looks even more like Britton and Rose‘s Fig. 99 in Vol. III. The areoles that have appeared in cultivation are now much the colour of those on, say, Copiapoa haseltoniana.

from H. Middleditch

This particular plant was brought along to the 1975 Brooksby Gathering by E. W. Bentley and we were able to compare it with a colour slide of the plate which accompanied Hooker‘s original description of Echinocactus streptocaulon. The similarity between E. W. Bentley‘s plant of SH 829 and the original streptocaulon Hooker were almost too good to be true. The green colour of the epidermis was the same, the creamy-brown wool cushion covering the crown was similar in colour and compactness, whilst the outward-pointing spines that give the impression of a pallisade could hardly have been a better match, in length, straightness, stoutness and spacing.

The photograph of E. W. Bentley‘s SH 829 was taken shortly after the plant was first purchased. To judge by the slight bend at the base of the plant, it might well have been collected in habitat as an offset from a clump like the one in Ritter‘s photograph. On the front cover may be seen the appearance of the plant in 1980, when it has grown almost cylindrical and is starting to offset just like the plant in Ritter‘s photograph. But these offsets have a quite different appearance to the parent plant. The offsets are ribbed, but by no means as acutely and distinctively as the parent. The areoles on the offsets are quite large, but set apart one from another. They bear some resemblance to seedling plants grown under the name of C. lembckei.

Now if this particular plant is indeed a replica of Bridge‘s collected plant which received the name streptocaulon, then according to Ritter it should occur south of Caldera (at Morro Copiapo), not "North of Caldera“. Unless it comes from both locations. Normally it would evince little surprise to suggest that a particular cactus species was to be found over an area extending perhaps one hundred or two hundred miles in length, never mind a bare twenty miles or less, as in this instance. But it would appear that there are a small number of Copiapoa species, like C. cinerea, which have been found to occur over a patch of ground perhaps fifty or a hundred miles in extent, whereas a fairly large number of Copiapoa species are described by Ritter, for example, as ,,only from this locality.“ But does not C. lembckei come from north of Caldera? Do imported specimens of C. lembckei look at all like Echinocactus streptocaulon? Even young seedling plants of C. lembckei which I have seen in various collections have the cushion of creamy-brown wool covering the growing point, just the colour of the woolly cushion on Hooker‘s original illustration!

response from E. W. Bentley

As far as your suggestion is concerned that my plant of SH 829 from North of Caldera could be C. lembckei, I would not argue strongly against it. After receiving your letter I put the SH 829 next to my SH 825 C. lembckei, and was struck by the even greater resemblance of the offsets of the two plants. And I began to see other similarities. The lembckei has a suggestion of pallisaded central spines and the areoles are more or less confluent. The main difference is in the colour and texture of the epidermis - in lembckei it is matt and bluish. In the SH 829 it is and was green and smooth. So perhaps it could still be C. bridgesii. Or streptocaulon? But what do you think of the suggestion that C. lembckei is only a synonym for C. streptocaulon (Hooker emend Ritt.) Ritt.? And so that both Backberg and Ritter are partly right?

from J. Forrest

I also obtained an imported plant of Copiapoa SH 829 from Sargant in 1970. The body of this plant has a grey-green coloured habitat growth; the ribs are vertical and number 10. It has grown well during the intervening years and it is now about 12 cm. high and 10 cm. in diameter - it has about doubled in size since 1970. It shows no waist between the new and the habitat growth but the cultivated growth is a lighter green colour. The spines are just as strong and long as their habitat counterparts. The central spines are about 3 cm. long, thick, strong, and straight; they stand out quite parallel to each other and they do give the impression of a palisade. The radial spines are shorter than the centrals - approx. two thirds the length. The areoles grow close together and almost touch, especially near the bottom. The wool in the crown is yellow to pale brown at first, but soon going grey; the grey felt gets darker nearer the bottom but much of the black has come off the habitat areoles whilst in cultivation.

I reduce my watering of Copiapoa in October and give them a spray four or five times from November to the end of February. I start watering again early in March. Fairly early in 1975 my SH 829 produced offsets which definitely differ in habit from the parent and are really quite like that described on E. W. Bentley‘s SH 829 (see comments under Copiapoa pendulina, this series - H.M.). The parent flowered for the first time in the August of 1975 - it was a typical Copiapoa flower, yellow in colour.