Echinopsis formosa
(Pfeiff.) Jacobi ex Salm-Dyck
Cactaceae
Acanthocalycium formosum (Pfeiff.) Backeb.
Echinocactus formosus Pfeiff.
Echinopsis kieslingii (Rausch) Anceschi & Magli
Echinopsis korethroides Werderm.
Echinopsis mieckleyi R.Mey.
Echinopsis randallii (Cárdenas) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley
Eriosyce korethroides (Werderm.) Backeb.
Helianthocereus randallii (Cárdenas) Backeb.
Lobivia formosa (Pfeiff.) Dodds
Lobivia kieslingii Rausch
Lobivia korethroides (Werderm.) Werderm.
Lobivia rosarioana Rausch
Soehrensia formosa (Pfeiff.) Backeb.
Soehrensia korethroides (Werderm.) Backeb.
Trichocereus formosus (Pfeiff.) F.Ritter
Trichocereus korethroides (Werderm.) F.Ritter
Trichocereus randallii Cárdenas
Common Name: Pasakana
General Information
Echinopsis formosa is a spiny, succulent cactus producing a single stem when young but later branching basally to form wide colonies. Individual stems are globose to cylindrical, up to 150cm tall and 25 - 50cm in diameter[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Echinopsis formosa has a wide range, is abundant and is found in protected areas. However it is threatened in parts of its range by illegal collecting of the plants for horticulture and by mining activities. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
Range
S. America - northwest Argentina, northern Chile, Bolivia
Habitat
Grassland, mountane shrubland and higher montane levels; at elevations from 1,000 - 4,000 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
]. The taste is somewhat like a melon, but more acidic[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
]. The broadly globose, green fruit is up to 35mm long and 40mm in diameter[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Medicinal
The fruit is an effective febrifuge[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The thorns are used to weave wool and the hairs are used to make brushes[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
