Espostoa

Espostoa: (Br.&R.) S. Ecuador to N. Peru. Mostly hairy tall branching cacti. Nocturnal flowers with some hair, fruits also have some hair. Backeberg erected the genus Pseudoespostoa mostly because of the cephalium difference but this genus name rarely used nowadays. Very popular cacti, healthy specimens are very beautiful. Named in honor of Nicolas E. Esposto a very keen botanist, lima Peru.
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Espostoa guentheri
Vatricania (Espostoa?) Guentheri (Kupp.) Backbg. (T.) FR838 Chuquisica Bolivia. The cephalium develops superficially and encircles the stem. Some botanists include Vatricania in Espostoa.
Espostoa  huanucensis
Espostoa huanucensis (Ritt.) FR665 Huanucho 1500m
Espostoa lanata v.mocupensis
Espostoa lanata var. mocupensis (Ritt.)
Espostoa lanata
Espostoa lanata (HBK.) Br.&R. (T.) KK292 Huancubamba, Peru
Espostoa superba
Espostoa superba FR572 Very thick stems
Espostoa laticornua
Espostoa laticornua var. atroviolacea (Rauh.& Backbg.) KK227 Peru 1500m.
Espostoa viligera
Espostoa villigera KK1219 Lamud Peru 2000m
Espostoa ritteri
Espostoa ritteri form of or hybrid of? This cactus believed to be a form of or hybrid of E. ritteri.
Espostoa lanata
Espostoa lanata form of: Thick stem with long spines.
Espostoa sp.procera
Espostoa sp. procera? This cactus bought at an old nursery that advertised E. procera.
Espostoa lanianuligera
Espostoa lanianuligera (Ritt.) FR660 nice ivory colored spines.
Espostoa ritteri
Espostoa ritteri (Buin.) Peru, banks of the river Maranon.
Espostoa sp.
Espostoa species, bought as E. mirabilis. May be an intermediate cactus between E. mirabilis and another Espostoa.
Espostoa mirabilis
Espostoa mirabilis (Ritt.) KK295 Balsas Peru 1200-1500m
Espostoa mirabilis
Espostoa mirabilis form of: This plant has a little more red in the spines.
Espostoa mirabilis form
Espostoa mirabilis form of: Spines even more red on this form.

Copyright Bob Ressler, no reproduction without permission of the author.