Copiapoa cinerea var. columna-alba (F.Ritter) Backeb.

 Copiapoa cinerea subs. columna-alba (F.Ritter) D.R.Hunt

국표에 없다.

Copiapoa cinerea is a species of plant in the genus Copiapoa in the family Cactaceae. The epithet cinerea comes from the Latin word for ash, by reference to the color of the epidermis.

Description

This cactus is globular, fleshy, and perennial, then columnar up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter, with 30 ribs. Typical of this species, and characteristic, is the production of a white-colored waxy cuticle, for which the plants in its habitat are decidedly white-grey in color, hence the specific epithet. The light coloration is a protection against desiccation. In culture, the epidermis is often greenish. Its thorns can assume different colors, depending on the populations, however Copiapoa cinerea is generally black or dark brown. Only old plants offset from the base.

Flowers are yellow, with a diameter of 2.5 cm (0.98 in), at the top of the plants.The fruit ripens between wools, and is only visible when ripening has already occurred.

ImageNameDistribution

Subspecies

	Copiapoa cinerea subsp. cinerea	Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama)
	Copiapoa cinerea subsp. columna-alba (F.Ritter) D.R.Hunt	Chile (SW. Antofagasta to Atacama)
	Copiapoa cinerea subsp. krainziana (F.Ritter) Slaba	Chile (SW. Antofagasta to Atacama)
	Copiapoa cinerea nothosubsp. scopa (Doweld) M.H.J.van der Meer (C. cinerea subsp. cinerea × C. cinerea subsp. krainziana)	Chile (Antofagasta)

 

Copiapoa cinerea - Wikipedia

 

Origin and Habitat: II Region Antofagasta, Chile, It occurs in large numbers at numerous locations from the Pan de Azucar in the south to just south of Taltal in the north, making impressive stands, resembling a marching army.
Habitat: Coastal areas from sea level up to 500 m in altitude. The plants obtain water mainly from condensation (Coastal fog/camanchaca) as rain is very rare. The plants grows in areas nearly devoid of other vegetation and exposed, but receive protection from direct sun through coastal fog (camanchaca). They have found a niche in the quebradas that run towards the Pacific Ocean, but always stopping short from the beach localities that are reserved by Copiapoa longistamineaSN|1380]]SN|1389]] and Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1391]]SN|1391]]. At the same time, it is obvious that there are many similarities with Copiapoa cinereaSN|1389]]SN|1380]].

Description: Usually solitary, forms white columns. All the plant in habitats lean markedly northward toward the sun following the direction of predominant wind, leading to the illusion that the entire landscape is tilted, This behaviour has been explained as a tactic by which the cactus minimizes the surface area exposed to the direct rays of sun. Thus the sun hits the woolly bent-over top of the cactus at an 90° angle, with the long trunk receiving only indirect sun. This species is more decorative than Copiapoa cinereaSN|1380]]SN|1380]] and one of the showiest of all cacti.
Note: This appears to be a very variable species.
Stem: Variable 50-75 cm tall, 10-20 cm in diameter, epidermis covered with a thick stratum of ashy-white pruine (it is often more white than the Copiapoa cinereaSN|1380]]SN|1380]]). Apex flattened with abundant yellow-orange or grey wool and without spines.
Ribs: 27-47, depressed, obtuse and tuberculated, approx 1 cm wide, 5-7 mm tall. Inter-ribs suture wavy.
Areoles: Small (diameter 2-3 mm), oblong, with yellow-orange wool (later becoming grey) recessed within the lower part of tubercle, 4-8 mm apart.
Central spines: 1-3 sub-erected, strong, up to1-2 cm long, black, brown or amber-yellow (never grey). Often the young plants are completely spineless.
Radial spines: 4-5 thin and arching, 5-8 mm long. Normally not present in adult specimen.
Roots: Not napiform.
Flowers: Apical, funnel form, small (2-3 cm long), yellow, scentless. Tube 7-15 mm long, pale-yellow with few thin, red tipped scales. Nectar chamber up to 4 wide, 2 mm deep and open. Lower filaments 15-18 mm long inserted at the base of the nectar chamber, upper filaments up to 10 mm long on the wall of the tube. Filaments and anthers pale yellow. Style up to 2 cm long not surpassing the stamens, stigma lobes 10, golden-yellow. 7 - 14 tepals, 10-12 mm long, 3-5 mm broad rounded, pale yellow, not tinged in red.
Fruit: Deeply concealed within the apical wool, 7-10 mm in diameter, round or egg-shaped, pale green reddening toward the apex, almost naked with only few (3-4 mm long) scales. Almost completely dry at maturity, deihscence capsular (less pulpy than in Copiapoa cinereaSN|1380]]SN|1380]]).
Seeds: Shining-black. 1,2 mm long, 0,6 mm large, 0,5 mm thick. Covered with very fine flattened tubercles, hilum oval white.

Copiapoa cinerea var. columna-alba (llifle.com)