#acanthocalycium

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum

Acanthocalyciums are South American cacti related to Lobivia, and both of these genera were for a time folded into Echinopsis, along with other related cacti. This resulted in a huge unwieldy genus, and now the original genera have been restored, though not quite in the same way as they were originally classified. The name "spiniflorum" refers to the barbs found on the tube of the flower, a characteristic of the Acanthocalycium group. Our plants are flowering wonderfully this month.

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum

Here is another Argentine native cactus with a checkered naming history. Acanthocalycium refers to a group whose flowers are spiny on the outside. They are related to Lobivia, and considered by some to belong in that genus; like all the Lobivia species, they were put into a greatly enlarged concept of Echinopsis, but now the small genus Acanthocalycium has been brought back. The flowers are almost white, but with a hint of lavender-pink.

Acanthocalycium glaucum

Like so many cacti, this plant has been plagued by disagreements about how it should be classified. Acanthocalycium is a small group closely allied to Lobivia (and the whole genus Lobivia was for a time sunk into Echinopsis), but they have a distinctive trait for which they are named: "Acanthocalycium" means "spiny calyx", and indeed the outside of the flower has long sharp spines, in addition to the more evident hairs. The "glaucum" part refers to the whitewashed appearance of the plant, unusual for the lobivias and their relatives. Our plant has yellow flowers, but there is also a red-flowered form. From western Argentina.

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum

This genus of cacti is close to the large genus Lobivia, but differs in having sharp spines on the outside of the floral tube. Acanthocalycium spiniflorum is widespread in west-central Argentina.

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum

This is another of the South American cactus genera lumped for a time into Echinopsis, and there is disagreement on how it should properly be classified. Cactus authority David Hunt thought it should be placed within Lobivia, to which it is clearly related, but Joel Lode insists that there are good grounds for keeping it as a separate genus. An obvious difference from Lobivia is the spiny outside of the flower, and the name “acathocalycium” (= spiny calyx) refers to this. However it is classified, this is a charming species from Argentina with very pale pink flowers.

Acanthocalycium glaucum

As with so many things in the Cactus Family, there have been differences of opinion on what name this plant should go by. It was first placed in the small genus Acanthocalycium, then included in an expanded concept of Echinopsis, then put by some into Lobivia, but there is some DNA evidence to support the original genus Acanthocalycium, as it is here named. It is notable for how powdery-gray it is. From northwestern Argentina. As can be seen, I was a little late getting the photo, since the flower is not fully open.

L’acanthocalycium

PRÉSENTATION L’acanthocalycium est un tout petit cactus qui vous émerveillera par sa très belle floraison éclatante qui apparaitra suivant l’espèce entre la fin de la saison printanière et le début de la saison automnale. Ses fleurs iront du blanc au jaune en passant par le rose et parfois mème le violet. Continue reading

Cactus ornamentali – Acanthocalycium

Originari dell’Argentina possono essere globosi o cilindrici, I fiori spuntano dalla cima, dal tubo fiorale squamoso. Richiedono sole e molta aria con temperatura minima di 6°C.Acqua una volta a settimana con aggiunta di un prodotto a base di alghe (Ascophyllum). Si moltiplica in primavera per seme. Le specie più conosciute: A. catamarcense; A. spiniflorum #acanthocalycium #cactus…