Well, I am not one of the experts here, so I hope I am allowed to start a new thread in the series of "how to recognise.."
It seems that a lot of people are wondering about Cuzcoensis, myself included. Is it a variety of E. Peruvianus, or is it more closely related to E. Bridgesii?
In any case, what are the distinguishing features?
(I did some searches on these forums and on the web, and there didn't seem to be any consensus at all...)
Some of the things I have read about Cuzcoensis:
It grows only natively around the Cuzco area in Peru.
It basically has the same shape, form and spination as T. Peruvianus.
The ribs grow in a slightly "wavy" shape.
Some say the spination differs in that Cuzcoensis is supposed to have a strong central spine, whereas Peruvianus doesn't.
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has some areoles with strong central spines, others without.
Others say the Cuzcoensis has two central spines in each areole, whereas Peruvianus and Pachanoi have a single spine. One spine points upwards at an angle, the other downwards.
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has some areoles with one central spine pointing upwards, and another pointing downwards.
The spines turn bone-white after ageing a bit, whereas Pedro and Peruvianus keep some colouration of the spines.
The Cuzcoensis looks like a "+" seen from above.
It differs in other 'subtle ways' from the classical San Pedro.
The base of mature spines seem darker than the midsection or tip. (After the spines have set and before they turn all white)
The long central spines broaden out noticeably at the areole, in comparison to Peruvianus where the spines seem needle-like all the way to the areole.
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has spines that are somewhat fatter at the base than towards the tip. Possibly they have to be even fatter at the base to signal a Cuzco trait.
Ribs are more sharply defined than Peruvianus, whose ribs seem smoother/rounder in shape
Well, I am not one of the experts here, so I hope I am allowed to start a new thread in the series of "how to recognise.."
It seems that a lot of people are wondering about Cuzcoensis, myself included. Is it a variety of E. Peruvianus, or is it more closely related to E. Bridgesii?
In any case, what are the distinguishing features?
(I did some searches on these forums and on the web, and there didn't seem to be any consensus at all...)
Some of the things I have read about Cuzcoensis:
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has some areoles with strong central spines, others without.
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has some areoles with one central spine pointing upwards, and another pointing downwards.
Personal observation: this is not reliable. I have a certified Peruvian Torch that has spines that are somewhat fatter at the base than towards the tip. Possibly they have to be even fatter at the base to signal a Cuzco trait.
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