Cleistocactus Lemaire (1861)

(greek. kleistos = closed, latin cactus = cactus)
closed flowered cactus, becaus of "closed" tubular flowers

slim shoot shrub, basal or side branches; ribs numerous
bristles thin, sometimes like hair, dense or loose, single longer,
upward or downward, humid = soft and flexible, dry = but easily breaking off
flowers cylindrical, red, orange, yellow, white, red with green, orange with red
hem opening weak, sometimes angular, tube bent at the ovary,
without bristles, some species very rich flowering
fruits globular, scaly, without bristles; seeds small

Highslide JS
 

Distribution

south America - Peru, Bolivia, Argentinia, Paraguay, Uruguay
from 500 m (1640 ft) in Paraguay and Uruguay to over 3000 m (9843 ft) altitude in Bolivia
savannas, mountains and sparse forests

Growth period

light and warm, ample humidity, a location outdoor during the growth period is possible
in spring and summer is mist at evening very good
adequate soil moisture and never for a long time quite dry
dense spined species have a mid summer break, from about July to August, never pour at this time
main growth period in fall to December, less in spring from April to May

Winter period

light and never completely dry at 10–15°C (50–59°F)

Substrat

nutritious and well-drained, with humus
   
Cleistocactus ritteri F. Ritter (1954)
 
Highslide JS
  Highslide JS    
         

Field number

FR325 - collected by Friedrich Ritter (October 1974)

Habitat

Bolivia
La Paz - at Rio La Paz, Plazuela, Loayza Province Grenze
in 1100 m (3609 ft) altitude

Description

named after Friedrich Ritter
over 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, slim, erect, basal branched, shoots about 3 cm (1.2 in) Ø
ribs 12–14 or more
areoles first dark brown, later whitish
radial bristles very numerous, fine, short, white
5 center bristles to 1 cm (0.4 in) long, yellowish
also like hair fine, distant bristles, to 3 cm (1.2 in) long, white
flowers about 4 cm (1.6 in) long, slightly curved, lemon yellow with green stigma

Synonyms

Cephalocleistocactus ritteri (C. Backeberg) C. Backeberg (1962)
CITES Appendix II
 
Description of "Kakteen von A bis Z" by Walter Haage with courtesy by Kakteen-Haage made available.

 

 

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