Various populations of Trichocereus santaensis 

There are various populations of Trichocereus santaensis. The species originally occurs in the Santa Valley. It is HUGE and it covers and borders other historic cities like Huaraz, Olleros, Ancash and many more. In those regions, you can sometimes find this rare gem labeled as Trichocereus pachanoi or simply SAN PEDRO.

During the Sacred Succulents Field Trips, they visited various populations of Trichocereus santaensis and I want to combine them here on this page.

BK09511.7 Trichocerus santaensis, Rio Santa, Ancash, Peru

This one was visited during the 2009 Field Trip. Near Rio Santa, Ancash, Peru. Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com! Support them to ensure their survival so they can go on more Field Trips in the future!

It is a super interesting plant that has the typical discoloration of the skin that this species is known for. Werner Rauh particularly mentioned it in his original description. This is probably the archetype of this species. But there are more and the variation among the other related types is HUGE.-Some have longer spines, while some others look more like typical Pachanois. When dealing with Pachanois from Huaraz, it´s sometimes not easy to keep them apart from this species and some people do not differentiate between the two.

BK09509.10 Trichocereus santaensis, Rio Santa near Olleros, Ancash

Another Pic from the same Location as BK09509.9 but different Plant near Olleros. Which is a hotspot for this rare Trichocereus. If you come across plants from this area, it´s probably Trichocereus santaensis. Note the weird spination which is really typical for this species. And once again, the discoloration of the skin.

BK09509.9 Trichocereus santaensis, Rio Santa near Olleros, Ancash, Peru

Another very cool and rare Trichocereus from the sacred Succulents 2009 Field Trip. A large population growing besides the Rio Santa, near Olleros, Ancash, Peru!

Trichocereus santaensis, north of Caraz, Ancash, Peru

Another local poulation of the same species. This time north of caraz, Ancash, Peru.

Various populations of Trichocereus santaensis

Various Trichocereus Species from the Sacred Succulents Trips

Various Trichocereus Species from the Sacred Succulents Trips

On this page, I want to show some of the plants that my friends from Sacred Succulents visited during their Field Trips. I had those listed as separate pages, but it made the whole process to look at them a bit complicated. And that´s why I brought some of the species on one page. On this page, you can see some Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Trichocereus bridgesii, Trichocereus peruvianus and others.

 

BK08519.4 Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Pisac

This plant was visited during the 2008 Sacredsucculents Field Trip. It´s a beautiful Cuzcoensis that partially grows creeping. For some types of Trichocereus cuzcoensis and Trichocereus peruvianus, it´s definitely common that they can lean over and grow hanging down rocky slopes and cliffs. This Trichocereus cuzcoensis from Pisac is relatively typical Cuzcoensis that is not unlike the so well known and widely distributed KK242.

Ben from Sacred Succulents gave away a very limited amount of seeds to people who supported the Sacred Succulenst Field Trips with seed shares and this was one of them.

BK08521.12 Trichocereus cuzcoenis, Ollantaytambo

This one is another rather typical cuzcoensis, but that shows slight variation to what we usually know. This is a plant that is unlike the typical KK242, but which shows relationship to plants like the amazing cuzcos from the Bolivian Isla Del Sol. Definitely an amazing plant!

BK08526.4 Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Peru

I will add more Info about this Plant soon. It is a plant that was visited during the Sacred Succulents Field Trips. Picture by Ben Kamm from sacredsucculents.com!

Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Lamay, Cusco, Peru 2010 copyright B. Kamm

First One from the 2010 Sacred Succulents Field Trip! Trichocereus Cuzcoensis in Lamay, Cusco, Peru. Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com

BK08526.11 Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Raqchi

I will add more Info about this Plant soon. It is a plant that was visited during the Sacred Succulents Field Trips. Picture by Ben Kamm from sacredsucculents.com!

BK08612.9 Trichocereus peruvianus, Sucro, Peru

Trichocereus Pervianus from Sucro! Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com!

Trichocereus Bridgesii Mutant Achuma, above Huachjilla, La Paz, Bolivia 2010

One of the coolest Plants I ever saw! A mutated Trichocereus Bridgesii growing above Huachjilla, La Paz, Bolivia. Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com

Trichocereus bridgesii-baby Achuma, above Huachjilla, La Paz, Bolivia

Another very small Baby Bridgesii from La Paz. Taken during the 2010 Sacred Succulents Field Trip! Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents

Trichocereus peruvianus, Fortaleza Canyon, Ancash, Peru

A very cool Peruvianus from the FORTALEZA CANYON in Ancash, Peru. Ben Kamm

Trichocereus seedling, Sedum, Peperomia, Chavin, Ancash, Peru

Another small Peruvianus Seedling, growing in relationship with Peperomia and Sedum. Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com.

Trichocereus peruvianus baby, Huariquina. Lima, Peru

Another Pic from the Sacred Succulents 2009 Field Trip! Pic: Ben Kamm, Sacredsucculents.com!

BK08526.12 Trichocereus cuzcoensis, Raqchi

I will add more Info about this Plant soon. It is a plant that was visited during the Sacred Succulents Field Trips. Picture by Ben Kamm from sacredsucculents.com!

BK08608.4 Trichocereus bridgesii, El Vergel, La Paz, Bolivia

Another Bridgesii from La Paz, Bolivia. Pic: Ben Kamm, sacredsucculents.com. More text will follow soon.

Various Trichocereus Species from the Sacred Succulents Trips

Trichocereus pallarensis

Trichocereus pallarensis

Photo: Cactusaffinity.com

Trichocereus pallarensis is a species that was described by Friedrich Ritter and listed in his WINTER catalogs starting in 1961! I do have most of the old Winter catalogs, but I unfortunately not the ones after 1960. But that´s not a problem as I have a whole lot of other information about Trichocereus pallarensis.

Ritter wrote about this species numerous times. He basically called this plant a „variety of Trichocereus pachanoi“, but described it as a new species just in case. Back then, it was common that botanists or taxonomists wrote new descriptions only based on minor differences, that would only be seen as a regional form by today´s standards.

Trichocereus pallarensis has 3 – 6 radial spines (15 – 50 mm long). Those are brown or honey colored and relatively thin compared with the ones on Trichocereus peruvianus and Trichocereus pachanoi. The middle spines are often missing or there is only one very strong and long middle spine. It is very similar to Tr. pachanoi in regards to the spination and most of the spines are only few millimeters long. The areoles are often very small and those packed areoles usually tend to miss the one middle spine as well.

Flowers: Friedrich Ritter was not able to get a good description of the flower and I am working on one myself. The plant is very rare and if you happen to have a flowering sized one, please let me know so we can improve the flower description. With that said, it comes from the Pachanoi group and is probably almost identical to the one of Tr. pachanoi. The flower is definitely white, but I´d love to measure it some more.

Fruit: The fruit of Trichocereus pallarensis is 5 cm long and 4 cm thick. Covered with GRAY wool.
Seeds: The seeds of Trichocereus pallarensis are identical to the ones on other Tr. pachanoi types.

Origin/ Type locality: Trichocereus pallarensis grows in Llancora, near Cajamarca. Near Pallar (that´s where the name comes from) and east of the cordillera Blanca. Department Ancash at 2.500 – 3.000 meters altitude.

Where to buy Trichocereus pallarensis seeds and plants:

Trichocereus pallarensis is very rare and only a few shops have them in stock. If you want to buy seeds of Trichocereus pallarensis, please join my seed list and I´ll let you know next time I have some. You can also get some fresh seeds from Sacredsucculents.com every now and then. They have a beautiful number of crosses that they produce every year. You might also be able to get some from Cactusaffinity and Misplant.

Trichocereus pallarensis FR1468 Locality: Machar, Peru (Ritter)

Trichocereus pallarensis