Trichocereus Blog: Trichocereus Riomizquensis

Trichocereus Riomizquensis

Now let´s take a closer look at this interesting species. The Plant that is understood to be Trichocereus Riomizquensis is a pachanoid column that would most likely not even be considered a variety, because it is very similar to the description of Trichocereus Pachanoi.

The fact that there are many Bridgesiioid Tricho´s growing in the direct neighborhood of this Pachanoid is probably responsible for the fact that there also are Bridgesii´s that are labeled as Trichocereus Riomizquensis. The “Species” was discovered by the german cactus field botanist Friedrich Ritter, who gave Chuyllas near the Rio Mizque as the typus location and mentioned it would grow on steep slopes in the provence Campero.

His Field Number was FR 856. Friedrich Ritter ran a Seed Shop and sold this species as seed to people all over the world. I will add a picture of his “Riomizquensis” later.

Trichocereus Riomizquensis was also visited during the Sacred Succulents Fieldtrips and they found a couple of different types growing around that area.

This is a pic of a botanical sample of Trichocereus Riomizquensis, Copyright Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com . The spines on this herbarium paper look definitely bridgesoid. Please not what is written on the first pic about the plant being “aff. lageniformis/pachanoi”, which is really interesting! So apparently this is either a very untypical Trichocereus that can have traits of both species or there are more than one plant that are called Trichocereus Riomizquensis.

Where to buy seeds and plants of Trichocereus Riomizquensis: Well, this one is kinda hard to find. Sacred Succulents were giving away seeds after their Field Trips and some plants might have gotten into the hands of collectors. Unfortunately, I havent seen any plants raised from their seeds. Some of the plants they encountered with this label were Bridgesiis while some others were Pachanois. They usually occur in Bolivia. You can ask Ben of Sacred Succulents. http://sacredsucculents.com.

I am always looking for seeds of Trichocereus Riomiquensis.

This is a description that is based on Friedrich Ritters description, including remarks on how to keep it apart from Scopulicola. Trichocereus Riomizquensis is 6-8 centimeters thick (while Trichocereus Scopulicola is 8-10 centimeters thick), it has 5-6 ribs, (Scop: 4-6), flanks 2 centimeters wide (scop 3-4), less rounded than scop. It has rounded areoles (while the ones on Scop are usually ovally). The areoles have a very visible fluff with a diameter of 2-3 mm. The 1-5 spines are honey-colored and between 1-3 mm long. Sometimes even missing.

Flower: The flower of Trichocereus Riomizquensis is 20 centimeters long (while Scopulicola is 16-20) and has dark brown wool with large scales. The fruit looks kinda bumpy.

Typus Location: Chuyllas near the Rio Mizque, on very steep rock walls in the provence Campero, Bolivia. Discovered from Ritter in 1958 – FR 856.

There are more pics of Trichocereus Riomizquensis on those pages.