Copiapoa cinerea

This is a very variable species as demonstrated by the number of varieties and their synonyms. It is also one of the most attractive, due to its ash-grey to white coloured epidermis and typically black spines and therefore most sought after species in cultivation. In cultivation (in the UK), the white waxy bloom is often not produced, revealing a brownish epidermis.

Original Description

Philippi, R. A. 1860, Fl. Atac. 23. as Echinocactus cinereus

E. omino cinereus diametri 4-pollicaris; costis numerosis; verrucis vix 2 lin. inter se distantibus, diametri 21/2 lin., vetustioribus immersis, planis; aculeis 5-6, nigris, teretibus, supremis duobus parvis, circa 2 lin. longis, inferioribus circa 6-8 lin. longis, centrali 9-10 lin. longo; apice lana alba densissima, 9 lin. longa tecto, flores plures vix e lana emergentes, 9 lin. longos, flavos emittente. In litorali a valle Taltal a 25^o 24’ lat. m. usque ad Cobre 24^o 25’ lat m. frequens, inter majores recensendus, valde ramosus, massas interdum diametri 1½ ped. formans.

Echinocactus cinereus was discovered at Hueso Parado, inland from Taltal, by R. A. Philippi in 1854 and described by him six years later.

Transferred to the genus Copiapoa when this was first created: Britton & Rose - Cactaceae, iii. 86 (1922)

References in Literature

Philippi, R. A. 1860,
Fl. Atac. 23.

Original description as Echinocactus cinereus, see above

Schumann K. M. (1897-1898)
Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen

illustrations: Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. f. 15; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 11:7, as Echinocactus cinereus.

Britton N. L. & Rose J. N., (1922)
The Cactaceae (3) : 86

'Copiapoa cinerea (Philippi) Br. & R. comb. nov.

Simple, cylindric, 20 cm. high, 10 cm. in diameter, covered with wool at the apex;
ribs 18, broad, obtuse; spine solitary or sometimes 5 or 6, terete, black; upper radials 4 mm. long; lower radials 12 to 16 mm. long; central spine 18 to 20 mm. long;
flowers funnelform, 18 to 30 mm. long, 2.5 cm. broad, yellow; ovary naked;
fruit 1.5 to 2 cm. long;
seeds black and shining.

Type locality: Along the coast of Chile from Taltal to Cobre.
Distribution: Western Chile.

This species is similar to Copiapoa marginata but has more ribs and very different armament.

We have seen no living specimens of this species, but Dr. Rose obtained a small piece of the type from the Philippi Herbarium. This agrees very well with Schumann’s illustration cited below.

illustrations: Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. f. 15; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 11:7, as Echinocactus cinereus.

Figure 98 is copied from the first illustration above cited.'

Britton & Rose did not recognise any varieties.

Hutchinson P. C. (1953),
Variation in Copiapoa cinerea CaSJ(US) 25(3):

A detailed account of the variability of the taxon in habitat is given.

Backeberg C. (1959),
Die Cactaceae 3:1900

Regards the chalky white epidermis and the rib-form and spination as the species' most distinguishing characteristics.

The Chileans:

Backeberg C. , Copiapoa cinerea (Philippi) Br. & R. 9(33):114, 1974
Knize K. , Copiapoa cinerea (Philippi) Br. & R. 9(33):117, 1974

Ritter F. (1980)
Kakteen in Südamerika (3):1097

Ritter points out the uncertain identity of Echinocereus cinereus Philippi and the possibility that this really concerns plants later described as C. gigantea Backeberg.

He also notes the variability found in habitat, with intermediate forms in evidence, that he surmises are due to climatic factors. The variability does not lend itself to taxonomic ranking.

Ritter records one variety, C. cinerea var. albispina Ritter 1963.

Taylor N.P. (1981)
A commentary on Copiapoa , The Cactus and Succulent Journal of Great Britain, 43(2/3): 49-60

Taylor lists five varieties:

var. haseltoniana (Backeberg) Taylor comb. nov.
including C. eremophila Ritter (1980) and C. gigantea Backeberg (1959)
var. albispina Ritter (1963)
var, cinerea ?
including C. longistaminea Ritter (1963) and C. tenebrosa Ritter (1980)
var. columna-alba (Ritter) Backeberg (1962)
including C. melanohystrix Ritter
var. dealbata (Ritter) Backeberg (1962)
including C. carrizalensis Ritter (1959)

and questions if the variability is such that C. krainziana should be included as well.

Butcher D. (1982)
The Genus Copiapoa, Calandrinia II

Butcher summarizes the above and adds that Knize considers there are two forms (sub-varieties) of var. dealbata: longispina (KK 609) and deminuta (KK 1383)

Hoffmann A. E. (1989)
Cactaceas en la flora silvestre de Chile: 102 - 107

Adriana Hoffmann goes a step further than Taylor and recognizes additional varieties:

var. gigantea
var, eremophila
var. tenebrosa

but retains C. dealbata as a good species and includes C. albispina as a synonym of C. cinerea.

Meregalli M & Doni, C (1991)
Piante Grasse Speciale - Il Genere Copiapoa: 17

Eggli U., Schick M.M. & Leuenburger, B.E. (1995)
Englera 16: 162

Ritter 207: Copiapoa cinerea (Philippi) Britton & Rose

loc. 1	Chile: Taltal. 21. /6. /1954
	ZSS 810064	sem (Leg. F. Ritter 1955.)
	ZSS T4719	rad, corp. ar, sp (Leg. F. Ritter ex nat. (juvenile plant).)
loc. 2.	Chile: ,,nahe östl. Taltal = closely E of Taltal.
	SGO 124838	(corp). ar, sp
loc. 3:	Chile: ,von südl. Cruce nach Cifuncho“ = from S of Cruce towards Cifuncho lio / ,,von Cruce 5 km nach Cifuncho“ = from Cruce 5 km towards Cifuncho /1956 One of the two original labels also has the number "FR 207b“ (which is identified as strongly spined forms of C. cinerea in KS 4: 1624).
	SGO 124839	rad, corp, ar, sp
loc. 4.	Chile: "Tältal“. — / 1. / 1954
	ZSS SR13224	sem

Ritter 207b: Copiapoa cinerea (Philippi) Britton & Rose

	Chile: ,,von der Lokalität Taltal, ca. 15km südöstl.“ = from the locality Taltal, c. 15 km SE. — /2. / 1956. - Identified as strongly-spined forms of C. cinerea in KS 4:1624
	SGO 124840	(corp), ar, sp

Schulz R. & Kapitany A., (1996)
Copiapoa in their Environment

The authors regard C. cinerea as a complex that includes all the basionyms of the varieties considered above as well as C. atacamensis.

Charles G. J., (1998)
Copiapoa

The following varieties and synonyms are listed:

var. cinerea (Phillipi) Br. & R. (1922)
Synonyms
C. tenebrosa Ritter (1980)
C. cinerea var tenebrosa (Ritter) A. Hoffmann (1989)

var. columna-alba (Ritter) Backeberg
Synonyms
C. columna-alba Ritter (1959)
C. melanohystrix Ritter (1980)

var. dealbata (Ritter) Backeberg (1962)
Synonyms
C. dealbata Ritter (1959)
C. carrizalensis Ritter (1959)
C. carrizalensis var. gigantea Ritter (1963)
C. cinerea var. carrizalensis (Ritter) A. Hoffmann (1989)
C. cinerea var. carrizalensis f. gigantea (Ritter) A. Hoffmann (1989)

var. gigantea (Backeberg) Taylor (1987)
Synonyms
C. gigantea Backeberg (1936)
C. haseltoniana Backeberg (1956)
C. albispina Backeberg n.n. (1959)
C. eremophila Ritter (1980)
C. cinerea var. haseltoniana (Backeberg) Taylor (1981)
C. cinerea var. eremophila (Ritter) A. Hoffmann (1989)
C. cinerea var. albispina (Ritter) A. Hoffmann (1989)

var. krainziana (Ritter) Slaba (1997)
Synonyms
C. krainziana Ritter (1963)
C. krainziana var. scopulina Ritter (1963)

var. longistaminea (Ritter) Slaba (1998)
Synonyms
C. longistaminea Ritter 1963

Hunt D. (Ed.) (2001)
Coping with Copiapoa - 2,
Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives 12: 15-17

Hunt reports a consensus for a Cinerea group, consisting of

C. dealbata (incl. C. carrizalensis, ?C. malletiana)
C. serpentisulcata
C. cinerea (incl. C. melanohystrix, C. tenebrosa, C. eremophila)
C. haseltoniana (incl. C. gigantea)
C. krainziana

Taylor N. P., (2001)
Roots and mucilage in Copiapoa,
Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives 12: 18

Nigel Taylor's Cinerea group has Copiapoa with non-tuberous roots and no mucilage that includes:

C. cinerea
C. serpentisulcata
C. malletiana (incl. carrizalensis)
C. sp. nov. 2 (RMF53)

C. longistaminea is an anomaly, as it has mucilage.

Hunt D. (Ed.) (2002)
Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives 13:12

Expands the species to include:
Copiapoa cinerea ssp. columna-alba (Ritter) D. Hunt

It is not clear if C.gigantea / haseltoniana, previously regarded as varieties have already been combined at ssp. rank, and if so, which of the two names has priority as ssp. rank.

Hoffmann A.E. & Walter H. (2004)
Cactaceas en la flora silvestre de Chile (2nd Ed.): 130

Recognises subspecies:

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. cinerea:
Syn. Echinocactus cinereus Philipi
Copiapoa cinerea var. albispina

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. columna-alba
Syn Copiapoa columna-alba
Copiapoa melanohystrix

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. haseltoniana
Syn Copiapoa gigantea
       Copiapoa eremophila
       Copiapoa haseltoniana
       Copiapoa tenebrosa

Hunt D. (Ed.) 2006, The New Cactus Lexicon

Recognises subspecies:

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. cinerea:

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. columna-alba
Syn Copiapoa albata nom. nud.
Copiapoa columna-alba
Copiapoa melanohystrix

Copiapoa cinerea subsp. haseltoniana
Syn Copiapoa albispina
       There is also a form that grows above C. albispina
       Copiapoa gigantea
       Copiapoa eremophila
       Copiapoa haseltoniana

Distribution

PK Comments

The above classifications and reclassifications provide evidence of the confusion that rules regarding the names used in this highly variable group. The distribution area indicated in the original description could include most of the above names. It seems that many of botanists and hobbyists who have studied Copiapoa in habitat have formed their own concepts of what names should be applied to which plants. It is relatively easy to attribute some key features that dominate in certain populations, but it is equally possible to look more closely at plants in these populations to find individuals that 'break the rules' and would easily fit another population's dominant characteristics.

In some areas, plants are rather consistent in appearance where as in other locations, especially in the Quebrada San Ramon, variability is at its highest.

2001: S054, S055, S058, S059, S060
2003: S131, S132, S133, S150
2004: S267, S268, S270, S282