Thrixanthocereus

Thrixanthocereus: (Backbg.) This genus uncertain status, superficial cephalium consisting of hairs and bristles. Some sp. have long basal bristles. Berry like fruits are hairy. N. Peru.

Thrixanthocereus senilis: (Ritt.) FR569 N. Peru.	T. blossfeldiorum flower

Thrixanthocereus senilis (collection AWM) Additional notes	Thrixanthocereus jelenkyanus: KK282 Rio Utcubamba Peru 2000m. Same plant or similar to Espostoa calva FR1314.	Thrixanthocereus blossfeldiorum: (Werd.) Backbg. (T.) FR306 N. Peru Olmos valleys.

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

Thrixanthocereus senilis Ritt Thrixanthocereus senilis comes from northern Peru and is an easy plant to cultivate requiring just a frost free environment and a good light position. Like a number of columnar cacti when sufficiently mature to flower it produces modified areoles bearing additional hairs and bristles. This species is easily grown from seed and young plants are usually readily available from specialist cactus nurseries. The plant illustrated was donated to the collection of Suzanne and Tony Mace in 1994 by Mrs Mary Sellars of Kirkcaldy in Scotland. She had grown it from a small seedling to its present height of approximately 4 foot in thirty years. The white flowers are unusual for this species, a pale rose pink is more normal. They open at around 7p.m. in the evening and stay open until the following morning.