March 2010 Acanthocalycium violaceum

A more in depth look at individual cactus species, a new one is added each month -managed by Hob
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hob
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March 2010 Acanthocalycium violaceum

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Acanthocalycium violaceum (K. Schumann) Backeberg

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Growth Habits: Grows up to 6 inches [15cm] dia and 2 feet [60cm] tall usually solitary, sometimes offsets with age in cultivation.

Scientific name: Acanthocalycium spiniflorum.

Common names: None.

Synonym: Echinopsis violacea, Echinocactus spiniflorum, Echinopsis spiniflora, Lobivia spiniflora, Acanthocalycium spiniflorum, Acanthocalycium violaceum

Etymology: from Greek akantheis (meaning prickly) and kalyx (meaning buds), which refers to the spines on the floral tubes.
violaceum refers to the flower colour.

Origin: Argentina (Cordoba)

Light: Full sun, needs bright sunlight to keep it compact with strong spines.

Compost: A free draining standard cactus mix.

Water: Water in spring to autumn allowing soil to dry well between waterings, keep dry in winter.

Flower: Violaceum form has lilac flowers,spiniflorus has flowers white to pink.

Min temp: Frost hardy to about -12c but is best kept frost free to prevent marking the body.

Cultivation: Easy to grow plant, grows best in a greenhouse in full sun.

References. http://www.cactus-art.biz
http://www.desert-tropicals.com

Comments. The plant has a very distinctive flower tube and i have included an image of the flower buds to illustrate this.

Image showing flower buds.
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