Cacti from Patagonia

Overview

• Climate of Patagonia
• Austrocactus
  • Austrocactus bertinii
  • Austrocactus coxii
  • Austrocactus gracilis
  • Austrocactus hibernus
  • Austrocactus patagonicus
  • Austrocactus spiniflorus
• Echinopsis
  • Echinopsis leucantha
• Gymnocalycium
  • Gymnocalycium gibbosum
    • var. brachypetalum
    • var. chubutense
    • var. nigrum
• Maihuenia
  • Maihuenia patagonica
  • Maihuenia poeppigii
• Maihueniopsis
  
  • Maihueniopsis darwinii
  • Maihueniopsis hickenii
  • Maihueniopsis platyacantha
• Pterocactus
  • Pterocactus araucanus
  • Pterocactus australis
  • Pterocactus fischeri
  • Pterocactus hickenii
  • Pterocactus tuberosus
  • Pterocactus valentinii
  • Pterocactus spec. from Buta Ranquil
  • Pterocactus spec. from Bajada del Agrio
• Pyrrhocactus
  • Pyrrhocactus straussianus

Austrocactus Barrel cacti from southern Chile and Argentina. Some are said to be quite cold hardy in central Europe, but I havent tried it yet. Notoriously difficult to grow from seeds.' Austrocactus bertinii Flowering Austrocactus bertinii © Franz Kühhas Austrocactus coxii Cultivated plants of Austrocactus coxii © Alain Laroze and Aymeric de Barmon www.cactuspro.com Austrocactus gracilis (often considered A. bertinii) Austrocactus gracilis in habitat between Primeros Pinos and Zapala, Neuquén © Joachim Saul Austrocactus hibernus Flowering plants of Austrocactus hibernus © Franz Kühhas Austrocactus patagonicus Flowering plants of Austrocactus patagonicus © Franz Kühhas Flowering plant of Austrocactus patagonicus © Bochum Botanical Garden Cultivated plant of Austrocactus patagonicus © Alain Laroze and Aymeric de Barmon www.cactuspro.com Austrocactus spiniflorus (syn. Erdisia spiniflora) Austrocactus spiniflorus in habitat near Farellones, east of Santiago de Chile © Alan Craig www.teessidecacti.org Flowering Austrocactus spiniflorus © Franz Kühhas Maihuenia Small genus of low cushion or shrub-forming plants characteristic of the southern Andes. The distribution ranges from south central Chile and western Argentina to southeastern Patagonia (Argentina). Only M. patagonica and M. poeppigii are recognized as valid species names. Maihuenia patagonica Plant forming large bushes of up to a meter tall. Often associated with ants. Vicious spines. Distribution limited to southern Argentina, at elevations below 1500 m. Very common throughout the province of Neuquén. Supposed to be quite cold-hardy in the central european climate but the high-altitude M. poeppigii is probably more reliable. Maihuenia patagonica in habitat near Zapala, Neuquén © Joachim Saul Maihuenia poeppigii Plant forming dense cushions often consisting of hundreds of individual segments. Can grow up to more than a meter in size. Distribution mainly very high altitudes of above 1500 m in southern Chile, but also crosses the border into Argentina at places. This species is said to be reliably cold-hardy in central Europe and also quite moisture resistent. In fact, I was told that if kept completely dry over winter (essential for the survival of many hardy cacti), it may die. After having kept this species for two years, I can say that it is an easy-to-grow plant under central european conditions. In fact, I overwintered them successfully on a balcony, somewhat protected from moisture, but they did get some drizzle and snow from time to time. Temperatures of around -10 degrees Celsius did not harm these plants at all. They should not be kept hot in summer as they are from high elevations. Maihuenia poeppigii in habitat near Primeros Pinos, Neuquén © Joachim Saul Maihueniopsis Maihueniopsis darwinii Maihueniopsis darwinii in habitat, about 50 km north of Las Lajas, Neuquén, at an altitude of 1100 meters. Many lose segments are seen, some of which are already dried out. Larger groups often grow protected by small bushes. Many flower remnants are visible. © Joachim Saul Maihueniopsis darwinii, typical form. © Michael Kießling Maihueniopsis hickenii It is not clear to me if this is a valid species. It is sometimes put as a var. hickenii under the roof of M. darwinii. In particular I am not sure if there is a clear distinction between this "species" and M. platyacantha (see below). Maihueniopsis (darwinii var.) hickenii in habitat, approx. 10 km west of Cutral-Có, Neuquén © Joachim Saul Maihueniopsis hickenii in habitat near Barrancas, at the Neuquén-Mendoza border © Joachim Saul Maihueniopsis platyacantha Regarding my doubts about the status of this "species" see above under M. hickenii. Maihueniopsis (darwinii var.) platyacantha HTP 245. More pictures of this species can be found at Opuntia del Sur. © Opuntia del Sur Pterocactus Small caudiciform plants from south and western Argentina. Pterocactus australis can be found till as far south as the Magellan Straight. The flowers are produced from the apex of new growth. These plants all develop a large tap root, and the surface shoots can fall off during winter. Among the south american opuntioids, these are said to be the easiest to grow from seeds. Pterocactus araucanus Pterocactus araucanus CJH 411 © Michael Kießling Pterocactus australis HPT 312, a typical clone, cultivated plant. More pictures of this clone can be found at Opuntia del Sur. © Opuntia del Sur Typical form, cultivated plant © Piotr Swiatoniowski A short-spined form, cultivated plant © Piotr Swiatoniowski Pterocactus australis CJH 420, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling Pterocactus australis EH 3682, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling Pterocactus australis KF 60, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling Pterocactus fischeri Some consider Pterocactus fischeri just a variety of Pt. australis. Its distribution ranges from central Neuquén into southern Mendoza. HPT 270. More pictures of this clone can be found at Opuntia del Sur. © Opuntia del Sur Pterocactus fischeri in habitat near Cutral-Có, Neuquén. © Joachim Saul Pterocactus fischeri in habitat. Photo showing the extremely long tuberous root. © Jim Mauseth Pterocactus hickenii Cultivated plant © Piotr Swiatoniowski Pterocactus hickenii KF 79, from Perrito Moreno, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling var. skottsbergii cultivated plants © Piotr Swiatoniowski var. skottsbergii cultivated plant © Michael Kießling Pterocactus valentinii Pterocactus valentinii in habitat near Cutral-Có, Neuquén. The photos were taken in March 2001, thus there were no flowers exept a few remnants as visible in the left picture. © Joachim Saul CJH 404, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling Cultivated plant originating from El Zampal © Michael Kießling RMF 342, cultivated plant © Michael Kießling This is a rather long spined form. © National Plant Collection of Pterocactus Cultivated plant © Piotr Swiatoniowski Cultivated plant originating from Puerto Pirámides, Península Valdez, Chubut © Piotr Swiatoniowski This variety, which was photographed in habitat near Malargüe, southern Mendoza, produces remarably dark red flowers. © Opuntia del Sur Pterocactus spec. from Buta Ranquil This is a rather new variety from Buta Ranquil, in northern Neuquén. Some consider it a variety of Pt. australis. Cultivated plants © Piotr Swiatoniowski Another cultivated plant said to originate from Buta Ranquil, but is it the same as the above??? © Michael Kießling Pterocactus spec. from Bajada del Agrio This is another "unknown" variety/species from central Neuquén. Field number JL101. Cultivated plant © Piotr Swiatoniowski

Links

For further informations on the subject, I recommend the following sites:

• Opuntia Del Sur by Klaus Gilmer, Roland Langenberger and Hans-Peter Thomas in Germany
• South American Cacti Page by Franz Kuehhas in Austria
• Tephrowelt by Michael Kießling in Germany
• Tephroweb by Cyrill Hunkeler in Switzerland
• The National Plant Collection of Pterocactus
• Cacti from Neuquén, Argentina by myself

Joachim Saul www.jsaul.de

Last changed on March 21, 2003