Echinopsis cuzcoensis

Description

Echinopsis tulhuayacensis (synonyms: Trichocereus tulhuayacensis) is a species of plant in the genus Echinopsis in the cactus family (Cactaceae). The specific epithet tulhuayacensis refers to the occurrence of the species near Tulhuayaca. Echinopsis tulhuayacensis grows shrubby, branches from the base or slightly above and reaches heights of growth of up to 2 meters. Occasionally a short stem is formed. The cylindrical, dark green shoots have a diameter of 10 to 12 centimeters. There are seven to nine ribs that are crenate and form low protuberances. The areoles located on them are initially yellow and later turn gray. Protruding, whitish-grey thorns emerge from them, which are pointed darker. The three to four central spines are up to 8 centimeters long. The about eight radial spines have a length of up to 2.5 centimeters. The funnel-shaped, light pink flowers have a cream-colored throat and appear laterally and near the shoot tips. They are about 13 centimeters long. Its flower tube is studded with black hairs. The dark green fruits are hairy brown and have a diameter of up to 4.5 centimeters. Echinopsis tulhuayacensis is distributed in the Peruvian regions of Huancavelica and possibly Junín at altitudes of 3400 meters. The first description as Trichocereus tulhuayacensis by Carlos M. Ochoa was published in 1957. Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Douglas Rowley placed the species in the genus Echinopsis in 1974.