Leucostele chiloensis

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Leucostele chiloensis is a cactus native to South America. It is part of the hedgehog or sea-urchin cactus group and is often called the Easter lily cactus. The plant is tree-like and can branch, growing up to about 8 meters tall. Its shoots are cylindrical, 10–12 cm in diameter, with 16–17 ribs that are usually low and wide. Glochids have bright yellow spines that turn gray with time. The central spine is straight and 4–7 cm long (rarely up to 20 cm). The radial spines are 8–12, and each is 1 cm or longer. The flowers are white, funnel-shaped, and open during the day, reaching up to 14 cm in length. The fruits are green, spherical, and edible.

Distribution and habitat: This species lives in central Chile, from the north to the south, in coastal areas, valleys, and the foothills of the Andes, up to about 1800 meters elevation. An example location is La Campana National Park in Chile.

Taxonomy: It was first described as Cactus chiloensis by Luigi Colla in 1826. Over time it has been placed in several genera, including Cereus and Echinopsis. In 1974, Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Rowley placed it in the genus Leucostele.

Conservation status: Leucostele chiloensis is listed as Least Concern (IUCN).