Trichocereus Santaensis

Trichocereus Santaensis

Trichocereus Santaensis is probably some kind of Trichocereu Peruvianus Variety with reddish Spines. Please note that the Descriptions we add here are just the Opinions of the Authors. Backeberg tried to name the Plant with his Friend Rauh and thought that Santaensis deserves to have the Rang of a Species and was the Opinion that is is different enough from TRICHOCEREUS PERUVIANUS, TRICHOCEREUS MACROGONUS and TRICHOCEREUS PACHANOI.

Origin: Northern Peru, the valley around the Rio Santa, Puente, Bedoya, Huayanca

Can be kept apart from Trichocereus Cuzcoensis by the lack of a base on the spines. It´s also more frosted blue, has less spines and shorter middle spines. Unlike Trichocereus Peruvianus, it grows always upwards and does not bend over. Please note that Trichocereus Santaensis is a Variety of Trichocereus Peruvianus. The cactus botanists were arguing about this species and the pics I have show different kinds of plants.

Trichocereus Santaensis – Huntington Botanical Garden – by Richard Hipp!

Description: Trichocereus santaensis Rauh & backb g -. Descr. Cact. Nov. 20, 1956

Trichocereus Santaensis can get up to five meters high and branches from the bottom. The stemps are blue-green to a glaucous green. It has 7-9 ribs that are similarly broad than the ones on Trichocereus Knuthianus aka Echinopsis Knuthiana. There is a distinct furrow above the areoles. This distinct V-Notch is very strong in young pups. The areoles have a diameter of approximately 1 centimeter and Trichocereus Santaensis has between 1-3 radial spines. Spines medium long to short. In addition, Trichocereus Santaensis has one very long middle spine, which is up to 5 centimeters long.

Flower: The flower is white and gets up to 22 centimeters in length. It has a similar flower than other San Pedro types, which is another indicator that Trichocereus Santaensis is probably just a variety of Trichocereus Peruvianus, Trichocereus Cuzcoensis or Trichocereus Macrogonus. The flower tube dark gray to brown hairs.

Origin/Habitat: Rio Santa, Puente, Huayacana, Bedoya.

Trichocereus Santaensis is said to be very similar to Trichocereus Cuzcoensis, but does NOT have rounded, knobby spine bases. Besides, the spination is less strong and grows always columnar instead of creeping. Today, it would be regarded as a Variety and not a species. Differences like slightly different spination do not justify describing it as a separate species.

Please note that there are some types of Trichocereus Santaensis that have red spines. Because of that, it´s a very sought after plant.

 

In the Chapter of TRICHOCEREUS PERVIANUS, Backeberg wrote about its growth type:

I even found the Type initially growing erect, then lying or hanging . But near Matucana, there also are upright growing Varities of Trichocereus Santaensis, which probably weren´t recognized as a seperate Species.



The identification of these species with Tr. macrogonus (KKDE., 20, 1941) i cannot agree with.

 

This is Backebergs Key for Trichocereus Santaensis

Branches to 10 cm ∅

Blue green shoots

Ribs 7, very broad, strongly furroved,

Not flattened furrows

Spines gray-brown, brighter towards the base

Middle spines:

1 spine is longer, spines up to 4 cm long. 

1.  Friedrich Ritters Description was:
   
   Trichocereus SANTAENSIS RAUH & BACKBG. 1956 RAUH: BEITRÄGE PERUANISCHER KAKTEENVEGETATION
   
   1958, s. 361
   
   Differences from TR. Pachanoi (data for the latter in parentheses):
   
   
   
   Body gray-green (grass green to bluish green). Ri. 6-7, usually 6 (5-8, in
   
   
   
   Peru medium to 10 and even higher), on the Areoles a slight v-shaped
   
   
   
   Notch (little cross notch). Ar. 3-5 mm Dm
   
   
   
   Spines: few or absent,Rsp. to 3, a few mm to 3 cm long,
   
   
   
   Middle Spines. usually one, often it is the only Spine, a few mm to 4 cm long.
   
   
   
   Flower. Near the apex, about 18-19 cm long, about 12 cm wide open (up to 20 cm wide between the
   
   outer petals), obliquely upward (about protruding horizontally), just
   
   
   
   (with two slight curves). Nectar Chamber 19 mm long (slightly longer), without
   
   significant gap (small space), with little or no
   
   
   
   Nectar (with some nectar). Tube about ca 6 cm long with 2.5 cm further
   
   
   
   Opening (longer and wider). Petals slightly shorter and narrower, the outer
   
   almost adjacent to the interior Ones (strongly bent outwards),
   
   
   
   SANTA Valley at 2000 m and about Depart. Ancash; only here. No. FR 567a.
   
   
   
   Fig. 1,188,

Trichocereus Santaensis