IDENTIFICATION

Scientific name:

Echinopsis chamaecereus or Chamaecereus Silvestrii

Italian common name:

Lobivia of Silvestri, peanut cactus

Family:

Cactaceae

Origin:

native to Tucumán, Argentina, in the mountainous areas preceding the Andes.

Environment:

lives well in rocky areas. Growing in the mountains, it resists frost if kept dry, and can be left outdoors all year round; it will only change color, but in spring with the first waterings it will return to green.

Evergreen or deciduous:

evergreen

Toxicity:

It is not a toxic plant for humans or pets such as dogs and cats.

PLANT RECOGNITION

Height:

15 – 20 cm

Width (extension):

30 – 50 cm

Bearing:

drooping creeping prostrating

Leaf:

it has no leaves

Flower:

very large and showy, they are disproportionate to the plant, they can reach 15-20 cm in diameter. They have a funnel-shaped calyx and long, colorful petals. Depending on the different species, the colors vary from white to pink, from red to orange. They begin to sprout when the plant has reached maturity (about 3 years)

Flowering:

from early May to late July.

Fruit:

small reddish berries of only 7 mm. which open by themselves once ripe, releasing the seeds.

Stem:

dark green in colour, they tend to take on a reddish colour if well exposed to the sun, they are between 6 and 15 centimetres long and have 6-9 ribs, not very evident with areoles characterised by thick short and bristly spines, arranged along the edges of the ribs

Properties:

none known

Perfume:

yes

NEEDS

Manutenzione:

low

Exposure to light:

full sun or slightly shaded; the important thing is to ensure it has good brightness

Soil type:

aerated and porous soil. The soil must also be poor in organic matter and rich in inert and mineral material. It is best to avoid using common soil, which may contain an excessive amount of organic matter.

Soil acidity:

pH 6 – 7,5

Italian climatic area:

The Echinopsis chamaecereus is present in Piedmont, Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige in hilly areas up to 200m above sea level.

Need water:

every 15 days or so in midsummer and during spring; while in winter, during the cold period necessary for rest, the plant must not be watered at all. However, it tolerates long periods of drought well.

Propagation:

Easy by cutting or seed. The small stems (peanuts) detached from the plant can be detached and planted immediately, they root easily when they touch the ground. The plants generally emit numerous suckers at the base which, if left free to develop, lead to the birth of very pleasant bushes especially during the flowering period.

Illnesses:

very sensitive to attack by the cottony root scale and the shield scale.

Pruning:

does not require pruning

SPECIAL FEATURES

The name Echinopsis chamaecereus comes from the union of two Greek words: echinos, which means ‘sea urchin’ and opsis, which means ‘appearance’. A clear reference to its shape, which is very similar to a sea urchin. There is also another possible interpretation. The Latin Echinos, which means “porcupine”, could refer to the presence of numerous robust spines. The root “Chamae” comes from ancient Greek and means “short, dwarf” and from the genus Cereus: a genus of plants similar to a small, creeping Cereus. In fact, it is a small plant a few centimetres tall. They are also called “peanut cactus”.

Annotations

It is a kind of carpet cactus with numerous thick stems and thimbles.

This succulent does not require care and attention, is resistant to time, and certainly characteristic for its flowers and its shape, for which it is often considered a decorative plant, to be placed indoors, perfect for decorating rock gardens, flower beds or balconies.

It also resists cold frosts, so it can be kept outside even during the winter, although it is better to avoid it reaching temperatures below -8°C. In Mediterranean climates, where the average low is -2°C, it can be kept outdoors.

The plant becomes more beautiful if kept in partial shade, but exposed to the sun, especially all year round, it will produce more flowers.

In the kitchen:

there are no known uses