Oreocereus celsianus

Oreocereus celsianus, or the "old man of the mountain" is a member of the family Cactaceae native to the high lands of the Andes in South America, and is named for its fluffy white hair, which may protect it from intense sunlight and extreme temperatures.

Oreocereus celsianus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Oreocereus
Species:
O. celsianus
Binomial name
Oreocereus celsianus
Synonyms[1]
  • Cereus celsianus (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) A. Berger
  • Cleistocactus celesianus (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) A. Weber
  • Cleistocactus tupizensis (Vaupel) Backeb. & F.M. Knuth
  • Oreocereus bruennowii (Haage ex Rumpler) Backeb.
  • Oreocereus celsianus var. bruennowii (Haage ex Rumpler) Borg
  • Oreocereus maximus Backeb.
  • Oreocereus neocelsianus Backeb.
  • Pilocereus bruennowii Haage ex Rumpler
  • Pilocereus celsianus Lem. ex Salm-Dyck

Distribution

Oreocereus celsianus occurs naturally at high altitudes across Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.

Description

Growing to around 3 metres (10 ft) tall, O. celsianus is covered in a downy white hair, with greatest density at the tips of stems receding to near-bare at the base. The ribbed body has many long, brown spines and blooms in spring with long, tubular red flowers.

Ecology

Pollinated by hummingbirds in spring.

Cultivation

Thrives at 10–12 °C (50–54 °F), with a frost-tolerance of down to −12 °C (10 °F) and requiring protection from hot sunlight. Prefers full sun and light watering. Propagates from seed.

Oreorcereus celsianus in pot
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References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
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