Biology:Echinopsis lageniformis
| Echinopsis lageniformis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bolivian torch cactus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Echinopsis |
| Species: | E. lageniformis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echinopsis lageniformis (C.F.Först.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley[2]
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Echinopsis lageniformis, synonyms including Echinopsis scopulicola and Trichocereus bridgesii, is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus.[citation needed] Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species such as Trichocereus macrogonus which are also used for their psychedelic effects.[3]
Description
The plant has a light greenish to bluish color grows shrubby to tree-shaped somewhat branching and usually has four to eight ribs. It can grow 2–5 metres (6.6–16.4 ft) tall with stems of up to 15–20 centimetres (5.9–7.9 in) in diameter. The areoles on them are large and are 1.5 to 3 centimeters apart. The two to six spines that emerge from them are unequal. Spines can range in coloration from honey-coloured to brown. These spines can grow up to 0.1–7 cm in length and in fully grown plants are spaced evenly on the ribs, 2.5 to 3 cm apart.[4][5]
The long, funnel-shaped, 15 to 18 cm long white fragrant flowers open at night. They are 16 to 20 centimeters long. The spherical fruits are hairy and are 4 to 6 centimeters long.
Distribution
The plant comes from departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Tarija and Chuquisaca Bolivia at altitudes of 1000 to 3300 meters. Among the native populations of Bolivia it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species, such as Echinopsis pachanoi, which also have hallucinogenic effects.
This does not occur in places where it is the dominant species, such as in the area of La Paz, Bolivia.
Cultivars
Several varieties of this species are highly prized by ornamental cactus collectors. These include a cristate variety, two variants of monstrose growth, and a more recently developed clone that exhibits both monstrose and cristate growth.[6] These all tend to be much slower growing than the standard form of the species, but owing to their highly unusual shapes, they are sought after by cactus collectors.
The monstrose form of Echinopsis lageniformis is known as the penis plant or penis cactus. Contrary to the typical columnar habit of the species, this cultivar displays short stem sections that branch avidly, forming a low spiny bush. The upper part of each stem segment is smooth and spineless, resembling a penis. The lower part is spiny and shows a tendency to form ribs. The plant is light green. The German name for this cultivar, Frauenglück, more euphemistic than its English equivalent, translates as "women's joy".
Psychoactivity
Like other species related to it, it has an ancient shamanic use in its place of origin. The plant contains a number of psychoactive alkaloids, in particular the well-studied chemical mescaline, typically at levels more consistent than Echinopsis pachanoi but lower than some particularly potent Echinopsis pachanoi specimens. A level of 0.56% mescaline content by dry weight was reported for E. lageniformis, while up to 4.7% for E. pachanoi.[7] The concentrations for specimens from various locations vary considerably and E. lageniformis may sometimes contain higher mescaline content than E. pachanoi.[7] In 2010, under its synonym E. scopulicola, it was noted to contain 0.82% mescaline by dry weight in the outer green layer.[8] Chemical analysis of some variants of this species have shown it may include some of the most potent of the psychedelic Trichocereus species,[3] although this is not conclusive nor does it apply to all strains of the species. Outside of its native habitat, it is one of the lesser known and used of the Trichocereus cacti for either its psychoactive or ornamental uses. This is not true in areas where it is the dominant species, for example, the La Paz area of Bolivia.
As with related species, it seems to have long shamanic tradition of use throughout its native habitat.
Gallery
Five-year-old Echinopsis lageniformis that have been grown indoors.
A juvenile Echinopsis lageniformis cactus that has been growing for roughly one year.
Echinopsis lageniformis f. monstrose (short form or 'Clone B') (syn. Trichocereus bridgesii monstrose)
Echinopsis lageniformis f. monstrose (Long form or 'Clone A') also known as penis plant [9]
Short spine plant
See also
- Psychedelic plants
References
- ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010-09-22. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/152817/121489925. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Echinopsis lageniformis (C.F.Först.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley" (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/132706-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Madsen, Jens. "5. Echinopsis Zucc.". Flora of Ecuador (Gunnar Harling & Lennart Andersson) (35): 27–30.
- ↑ Herrero-Ducloux, Enrique. "Datos quimicos sobre el Echinopsis eyriesii" (in es). Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas Universidad Nacional de la Plata 2 (6): 43–49.
- ↑ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005) (in de). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon. Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 233. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
- ↑ Rowley, Gordon (1978). Reunion of the Genus Echinopsis. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Succulents. New York: Crown Publishing. ISBN 978-0-517-53309-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ogunbodede, Olabode; McCombs, Douglas; Trout, Keeper; Daley, Paul; Terry, Martin (2010-09-15). "New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis spp. (Cactaceae) ("San Pedro") and their relevance to shamanic practice". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 131 (2): 356–362. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.021. PMID 20637277.
- ↑ Ogunbodede, Olabode; McCombs, Douglas; Trout, Keeper; Daley, Paul; Terry, Martin (September 2010). "New mescaline concentrations from 14 taxa/cultivars of Echinopsis spp. (Cactaceae) ("San Pedro") and their relevance to shamanic practice". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 131 (2): 356–362. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.021. PMID 20637277. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874110004836.
- ↑ "Cactacae - Sacred Succulents". http://sacredsucculents.com/cactaceae/.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q150216 entry
 |  |
