Echinopsis

about 128, see text

Echinopsis (Zuccarini 1837) is a large genus of cacti native to South America. The 128 species range 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.

Studies in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in several formerly separate genera being absorbed into Echinopsis:

• Helianthocereus
• Hymenorebutia
• Pseudolobivia
• Soehrensia
• Trichocereus Riccobono

In addition, some have proposed merging Lobivia and Rebutia.

Species

• Echinopsis adolfofriedrichii Moser
• Echinopsis ancistrophora Spegazzini
• Echinopsis angelesii R. Kiesling
• Echinopsis antezanae (Cardenas) H. Friedrich & G.D. Rowley
• Echinopsis arboricola (Kimnach) Mottram
• Echinopsis arebaloi Cardenas 1956
• Echinopsis atacamensis Cardon (Philippi) H. Friedrich & G.D. Rowley
• Echinopsis aurea golden cob Britton & Rose

(more)

Reference

• Edward F. Anderson , The Cactus Family (Timber Press, 2001), pp. 255-286