Biology:Eulychnia
Eulychnia is a genus of candelabriform or arborescent cacti. It includes nine species native to Peru and northern Chile.[1] These desert cacti can survive under very hot conditions—temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, this breed of cacti can also survive in some of the driest places in the world such as the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world.
Description
Eulychnia species are shrubs or trees, often with abundant branching and sometimes a distinct trunk. Their stems are typically straight and ascending, or may lie decumbent, frequently forming a candelabra-like structure. These cacti possess 8 to 17 prominent ribs, with areoles adorned with wool or long hairs and bearing robust, lengthy spines.
The medium-sized flowers, appearing near the stem tips, are bell-shaped to funnel-shaped and remain open continuously. They range in color from white to pale pink. The pericarp and short floral tube are covered in woolly hairs or bristly spines, along with numerous scales. The resulting fruits are globose and fleshy, with a scaly or hairy surface, and rarely bear spines. The seeds are broadly ovoid, with a matte black or gray color and a finely warty texture.[2]
Taxonomy
The genus Eulychnia, named for its beautiful, candlestick-like columnar stems, was described by German botanist Rodulfo Amando Philippi in his 1860 publication, Florula Atacamensis seu Enumeriatio.[3]
Species
As of January 2026[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| 120px | Eulychnia acida Phil. | Chile. |
| 120px | Eulychnia breviflora Phil. | northern Chile. |
| 120px | Eulychnia castanea Phil. | Chile |
| 120px | Eulychnia chorosensis P.Klaassen | Chile |
| 120px | Eulychnia elata (F.Ritter) Lodé | Chile (Atacama) |
| 120px | Eulychnia iquiquensis (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose | Chile. |
| 120px | Eulychnia ritteri Cullmann | Peru (Arequipa) |
| 120px | Eulychnia taltalensis (F.Ritter) Hoxey | Chile (Antofagasta) |
| 120px | Eulychnia vallenarensis P.C.Guerrero & Helmut Walter | Chile (Atacama) |
Distribution
This genus naturally occurs across parts of South America, specifically in southern Peru and northern and central Chile, where its species primarily grow along the western coastal mountain range, generally at elevations below 1000 meters.[4] These plants are strongly associated with the coastal deserts of Peru and Chile, and influenced by coastal fog, some species can grow to impressive sizes. Within these desert environments, they often form dense populations, becoming a dominant feature of the landscape. While their exact lifespan is unknown, these large specimens are believed to be very long-lived.[2]
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpowo - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs; Anderson, Edward F. (2005) (in de). Das große Kakteen-Lexikon. Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 285. ISBN 978-3-8001-4573-7.
- ↑ "Eulychnia". 2020-11-10. https://www.cactusnames.org/eulychnia/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Plants of the World Online". https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:5329-1.
Wikidata ☰ Q136963 entry
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