"},"synonyms":{"wt":"{{Species list\n |Cereus bridgesii|Salm-Dyck\n |Cereus lageniformis|C.F.Först.\n |Echinopsis scopulicola|(F.Ritter) Mottram\n |Trichocereus bridgesii var. brevispinus|Borg\n |Trichocereus bridgesii var. longispinus|(C.A.Maass) Borg\n |Trichocereus bridgesii|(Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose\n |Trichocereus crassicostatus|F.Ritter\n |Trichocereus riomizquensis|F.Ritter\n |Trichocereus scopulicola|F.Ritter\n }}"},"synonyms_ref":{"wt":"{{Cite POWO|title=''Echinopsis lageniformis'' (C.F.Först.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley|id=132706-1|access-date=2023-09-29|mode=cs1}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBg">
Echinopsis lageniformis | |
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Bolivian torch cactus | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Genus: | Echinopsis |
Species: | E. lageniformis |
Binomial name | |
Echinopsis lageniformis (C.F.Först.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley [2] | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Echinopsis lageniformis, synonyms including Echinopsis scopulicola and Trichocereus bridgesii, is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus.[ citation needed ] Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species such as Trichocereus macrogonus which are also used for their psychedelic effects. [3]
The plant has a light greenish to bluish color grows shrubby to tree-shaped somewhat branching and usually has four to eight ribs. It can grow 2–5 metres (6.6–16.4 ft) tall with stems of up to 15–20 centimetres (5.9–7.9 in) in diameter. The areoles on them are large and are 1.5 to 3 cm (0.59 to 1.18 in) apart. The two to six spines that emerge from them are unequal. Spines can range in coloration from honey-coloured to brown. These spines can grow up to 0.1–7 cm in length and in fully grown plants are spaced evenly on the ribs, 2.5 to 3 cm apart. [4] [5]
The long, funnel-shaped, 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long white fragrant flowers open at night. They are 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) long. The spherical fruits are hairy and are 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) long.
The plant comes from departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Tarija and Chuquisaca Bolivia at altitudes of 1000 to 3300 meters. Among the native populations of Bolivia it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species, such as Echinopsis pachanoi, which also have hallucinogenic effects.
This does not occur in places where it is the dominant species, such as in the area of La Paz, Bolivia.
Several varieties of this species are highly prized by ornamental cactus collectors. These include a cristate variety, two variants of monstrose growth, and a more recently developed clone that exhibits both monstrose and cristate growth. [6] These all tend to be slower growing than the standard form of the species, but owing to their highly unusual shapes, they are sought after by cactus collectors.
The monstrose form of Echinopsis lageniformis is known as the penis plant or penis cactus. Contrary to the typical columnar habit of the species, this cultivar displays short stem sections that branch avidly, forming a low spiny bush. The upper part of each stem segment is smooth and spineless, resembling a penis. The lower part is spiny and shows a tendency to form ribs. The plant is light green. The German name for this cultivar, Frauenglück, more euphemistic than its English equivalent, translates as "women's joy".
Other highly valued cultivars are called Ben, Crown of Thorns, Fahim`s Bridgesii #1, Fields Bridge, Foolsbreath, Jiimz Twin Spine, and Nimbin. [7]
Like other species related to it, it has an ancient shamanic use in its place of origin. The plant contains a number of psychoactive alkaloids, in particular the well-studied chemical mescaline, typically at levels more consistent than Echinopsis pachanoi. The concentrations for specimens from various locations vary considerably and E. lageniformis may often contain higher mescaline content than E. pachanoi. [8] [9] However, a level of 0.56% mescaline content by dry weight was reported for some weaker E. lageniformis, while more than 2% for some extraordinary cultivars of E. pachanoi. [8] Chemical analysis of some variants of this species are not conclusive nor does it apply to all strains of the species. Mescaline is not evenly distributed within single specimens of E. lageniformis. [10] Outside of its native habitat, it is one of the lesser known and used of the Trichocereus cacti for either its psychoactive or ornamental uses. This is not true in areas where it is the dominant species, for example, the La Paz area of Bolivia.
As with related species, it seems to have long shamanic tradition of use throughout its native habitat.
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word cactus derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek word κάκτος (káktos), a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain. Cacti occur in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north, with the exception of Rhipsalis baccifera, which is also found in Africa and Sri Lanka. Cacti are adapted to live in very dry environments, including the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because of this, cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. For example, almost all cacti are succulents, meaning they have thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Unlike many other succulents, the stem is the only part of most cacti where this vital process takes place. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against herbivores, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. In the absence of true leaves, cacti's enlarged stems carry out photosynthesis.
Night-blooming cereus is the common name referring to many flowering ceroid cacti that bloom at night. The flowers are short lived, and some of these species, such as Selenicereus grandiflorus, bloom only once a year, for a single night, though most put out multiple flowers over several weeks, each of which opens for only a single night. Other names for one or more cacti with this habit are princess of the night, Honolulu queen, Christ in the manger, dama de noche, and queen of the night.
Acanthocalycium is a genus of cactus consisting of several species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The taxon name comes from Greek akantha and kalyx, which refers to the spines on the floral tubes.
Echinopsis is a genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. As of October 2023, there are about 20 accepted species, ranging from large and treelike types to small globose cacti. The name derives from echinos hedgehog or sea urchin, and opsis appearance, a reference to these plants' dense coverings of spines.
Neoraimondia is a genus of medium to large cacti from Peru. The genus is named after the Italian-born Peruvian explorer, naturalist, and scientist, Antonio Raimondi.
Soehrensia spachiana, commonly known as the golden torch, (white) torch cactus or golden column, is a species of cactus native to South America. Previously known as Trichocereus spachianus for many years, it is commonly cultivated as a pot or rockery plant worldwide. It has a columnar habit, with a lime-green cylindrical body with 1–2 cm long golden spines.
Echinopsis oxygona, also known as Eyries cactus, Easter lily cactus or sea-urchin cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to south Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. Some species that have been described separately, including Echinopsis eyriesii and Echinopsis tubiflora, are now considered to be synonymous. The features of the species include a large flower, with sharply pointed lavender or white petals, and a sweet scent.
Trichocereus macrogonus, synonym Echinopsis macrogonus, is a species of cactus found in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Two varieties are accepted as of September 2023: var. macrogonus and var. pachanoi. Plants contain varying amounts of the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline. They have been used both ritually and in traditional medicine from pre-Columbian times. Trichocereus macrogonus is one of a number of similar species that may be called San Pedro cactus. Indigenous names include achuma and huachuma, although these too may be applied to similar species.
San Pedro cactus may refer to several species or infraspecies of cactus potentially containing mescaline, particularly:
Trichocereus macrogonus var. pachanoi is a fast-growing columnar cactus found in the Andes at 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft) in altitude. It is one of a number of kinds of cacti known as San Pedro cactus. It is native to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, but also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela and cultivated in other parts of the world. Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years.
Leucostele chiloensis is a species of cactus native to South America; genus members are known as hedgehog cacti, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus.
Many cacti are known to be psychoactive, containing phenethylamine alkaloids such as mescaline. However, the two main ritualistic (folkloric) genera are Echinopsis, of which the most psychoactive species occur in the San Pedro cactus group, and Lophophora, with peyote being the most psychoactive species. Several other species pertaining to other genera are also psychoactive, though not always used with a ritualistic intent.
Leucostele terscheckii, commonly known as the cardon grande cactus or Argentine saguaro, is a large cactus native to South America and popular in cultivation.
Achuma is a mountain in the northern part of the Kimsa Cruz mountain range in the Bolivian Andes, about 4,960 metres (16,273 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Loayza Province, Cairoma Municipality. The peaks of Achuma lie north-west to north of the mountain Taruja Umaña and south of Janq'u Willk'i. There are two small lakes north of the mountain. They are named Allqa Quta and Ch'iyar Quta.
Oreocereus trollii, commonly known as the Old Man of the Andes cactus, is a species of cacti native to Argentina and Bolivia. Though listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the plant is collected extensively, and in some areas is threatened.
Lobivia bridgesii, is a species of Lobivia found in Bolivia.
Soehrensia tarijensis, is a species of Soehrensia, in the cactus family. It is native to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.
Echinopsis clavata, is a species of Echinopsis cactus found in Bolivia.
Cactus alkaloids are alkaloids that occur in cactus. Structurally, they are tetrahydroisoquinolines and phenylethylamines.