^{(Photograph = Neoraimondia gigantea, Craig Howe)}

Introduction

Peru has an amazing complexity of plant life, with tropical rainforests, deserts, rivers. Moreover, these plant habitats range from seal level to thousands of meters.

The Details

The cacti of Peru range from small (Rebutia) to large (Echniopsis  [Trichocereus]). They are globose, cylindrical, have cepalia, or are tree like.

Melocactus species are typically globose and have a short, cylindrical, apical (at the top) cephalium. The cephalium is were flowers are produced, and immature plants lack a cephalium. The genus is found in the Caribbean, Mexico, northern Brazil, southern Peru, and most places in between. Melocactus bella is from the lower to middle elevations of Peru.

The genus Corryocactus is often represented by large columnar cacti. Named after the Peruvian city of Chachapoyas, C. chachapoyensis forms a bush or shrub. Not commonly seen, the photograph here shows C. chachapoyensis to have a yellow flower.

Neoraimondia gigantea (Neoraimondia arequipensis var. gigantea) is from near the coast of Peru in the lower altitudes. The tall woody plants branch from the base to send up half a dozen parallel shoots. The flowers are a delicate pink.

Plants in the genus Espostoa typically have fine hairs covering the spines especially on new growth; small plants look like they are covered in wool or fleece. E. lanata is named for its lanate (wooly) appearance.

Additional Reading: Tephrocactus verschaffeltii in Peru