Oreocereus leucotrichus
(Phil.) Wagenkn.
Cactaceae
Arequipa clavata (Söhrens) Borg
Arequipa leucotricha (Phil.) Britton & Rose
Arequipa variicolor (Backeb.) Backeb.
Borzicactus hendriksenianus (Backeb.) Kimnach
Borzicactus leucotrichus (Phil.) Kimnach
Cereus hendriksenianus Backeb.
Echinocactus leucotrichus Phil.
Echinopsis leucotricha (Phil.) Anceschi & Magli
Morawetzia variicolor Kníže
Oreocereus hendriksenianus (Backeb.) Backeb.
Oreocereus knizei T.Hewitt & Donald
Oreocereus variicolor Backeb.
Common Name: Viejito
General Information
Oreocereus leucotrichus is a spiny, succulent, shrubby cactus, branching basally to form dense broad clumps with many stems curved upward. Stems columnar, 1 - 2 metres high, 6 - 12cm 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. It is grown as an ornamental.
Oreocereus leucotrichus has a wide range, is abundant, and, although it is harvested from the wild in some areas for use in horticulture, there are no major threats. 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 - northern Chile, Bolivia, Peru
Habitat
Andean shrubland, growing on rocky soils; at elevations from 2,000 - 3,500 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 |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 1.50 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
-
]. An acid flavour, it is often eaten with salt[
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 thin-walld, globose to somewhat elongated, reddish yellow to yellowish green fruit is 4 - 6cm in diameter[
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
-
,
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
None known
Other Uses
Children play with the white wool that covers this cactus, burning it like a powder wick[
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.
