Trichocereus puquiensis Rauh & Backeberg

Synonyms:

Echinopsis peruviana ssp. puquiensis  (Rauh & Backeberg) Ostolaza
         (Have not yet located a published description for the synonym. Personal communication with Dr. Ostolaza in 2001 indicated that the description was written but had not yet found publication.)

Plants branching from near the base (2 inches above base rather than at ground like peruvianus [BR]) or adjacent to injury. Erect in habit, growing to 4 meters in height.

Bluish-green branches to 15 cm in diameter, appearing swollen.

The 8-10 ribs are not surmounted by a transverse furrow but are somewhat swollen around the areoles. Ribs are around 2 cm in height.

Areoles are round, ~1 cm in diameter (Backeberg), 5-8 mm diameter (Ritter)

Spines are chestnut brown to start, later fading. Spines number from 10 to around 12.

There are up to 10 radial spines that are 1-2 cm long.

Usually 2 central spines; one of which is more erect and up to 10 cm long, the other directed downward up to 5-8 cm long.

Flowers are borne on the side of the plant up to the top of the columns in contrast to pachanoi (usually) bearing them closer to the apex.

Fragrant white flower 14-16 cm long (Ritter) [15 cm Backeberg], opening to 8-10 cm (smaller on both counts than pachanoi flowers which are 19-23 cm long, opening to 20 cm wide Ritter)

Floral tube is up to 10 cm long and to 2.5 inches in diameter. It has brownish-black hairs.

Form of the flowers lightly curved in the middle (or "slightly bent into two segments of the same length") [See note on Ritter's text]

Petals are white, the inner petals are 48-62 mm long, 22-30 mm wide (On pachanoi they are 9-10 cm long and 35-40 mm wide)

The outer petals are only moderately pointed and only slightly curved outward (pachanoi has longer and more pronounced points on the outer petals and they curve farther outward) [See note on RITTER's text]

Sepals are reddish-green beneath and green above.

The nectar chamber is 22-25 mm long (That of pachanoi being around the same length but present in a much shorter blossom), it is [????] [Unclear meaning: original says "ca 0,5 mm weit um den Griffel"]
Just as with pachanoi, it contains nectar
The receptacle is around that, it is 55-58 mm long, above it is 2-25 mm wide (In contrast to that of pachanoi being 80x45 mm)

The style is 8.5-10 cm long with 17-20 spreading 15-20 mm long stigma lobes (pachanoi has 15 stigma lobes, 30 mm long, and a 19.5 cm style)

The stigma lobes are presented in between the anthers rather than being held paramount to them as in pachanoi. Both the stigma and style are green.

The filaments are also green; bearing yellow anthers.

Endemic to Puquio, Dept. Ayacucho in southern Peru. Ritter 1981 (“above Puquio”: Backeberg 1977; “Puquio-valley, 3300m”: Backeberg 1959)

Appearance and flower indicate it is extremely close to both T. pachanoi and T. cuzcoensis.

Differs from cuzcoensis: due to having more ribs, longer spines and spines are not thickened at the base.

Grows on Pacific side of the Andes in contrast to cuzcoensis growing in the different climate of the Atlantic facing side.

Juvenile form comments

Ritter assigned his collection FR 155b

Photos published: Fig. 1189. in Ritter 1981 &

fig. 1061 in Backeberg 1959

Trichocereus puquiensis Photopage

Description compiled from:

Friedrich Ritter 1981 Kakteen in Südamerika 1325 (See English "translation")

Curt Backeberg 1959 Die Cactaceae 1108-1109: #8 (See English "translation")

Curt Backeberg 1977 Cactus Lexicon 496

Observations by KT concerning seed grown material and plant at the University of California at Berkeley Botanical Gardens

Observations on cutting of seed grown plant (BR)

Observations concerning the plant at the University of California at Berkeley Botanical Gardens

Comments on Knize's KK1689

KK1689 tip cutting photos