Lophocereus gatesii
| Light | Bright light to full sun once established |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; allow to dry fully between waterings, dry rest in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; cuttings of stem segments |
| Toxicity | No species-specific data; cacti in this group are generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs, but the spines can injure |
Lophocereus gatesii is a shrubby, columnar cactus endemic to the southern Baja California peninsula of Mexico and a close relative of the well-known senita, Lophocereus schottii. It forms clustering, ribbed olive-green stems and is distinguished from its relatives chiefly by its stout lower spines and its restricted natural range. Like other members of Lophocereus, it is sometimes placed in the genus Pachycereus by botanists who merge the two.
Description
Lophocereus gatesii is a richly branched, shrubby cactus that produces many stems from a common base — at first spreading and curving upward, later becoming erect — and forms open clumps up to about 2 m tall and 3 m across rather than a single trunk. The stems are columnar, roughly 5–8 cm thick and light olive-green, and marked by numerous (about 10–15) sharp-edged ribs running their length.
The lower areoles along the ribs bear stout spines — roughly a dozen or more, thickened at the base and up to about 15 mm long — that are more conspicuous than the slender spines of the closely related senita and help set the species apart. Like senita, however, mature flowering stems develop a pseudocephalium: the upper areoles produce a crowded mass of long (to about 6 cm), thin, twisted, bristle-like grey spines among which the flowers are borne.
The nocturnal flowers are funnel-shaped and coral-pink, up to about 3 cm long, opening at night. They are followed by small, roughly spherical red fruits with red pulp.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the southern Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, where it occurs at low elevations (about 0–100 m) between Todos Santos and Isla Santa Margarita. Its range is limited, and the IUCN Red List assesses it as Vulnerable. It grows in arid desert scrub among rocky and gravelly ground, sharing its habitat with other drought-adapted shrubs and cacti that provide a little shelter to seedlings.
Its naturally restricted range makes wild populations vulnerable to collection and habitat disturbance. As with the whole cactus family, L. gatesii is covered by CITES Appendix II, so international trade in wild-collected material is regulated; nursery-raised plants are the responsible source for collectors.
Cultivation
Where it can be obtained, Lophocereus gatesii is grown much like other desert columnar cacti. It wants a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix and a pot that drains freely, in bright light building up to full sun once the plant is established. Water thoroughly when the soil has dried out completely during the warm growing season, then allow it to dry again; keep the plant dry and cool through winter to avoid rot and to encourage a natural rest.
The species tolerates heat well but resents cold, wet conditions. Protect it from frost and keep it above freezing. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
L. gatesii can be raised from seed, sown on a warm, gritty surface kept humid until the seedlings establish, as described in Propagation — seed. Because the plant naturally branches and clusters, it is also readily grown from cuttings: a stem segment is severed, the cut end allowed to callus and dry for a couple of weeks, and then set on barely moist mineral mix to root. Cuttings preserve the exact characteristics of the parent.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; stems soften and discolour, often from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light produces thin, pale, weak growth that never firms up properly.
- Cold damage — exposure to frost scars or kills the stems; move plants under cover before hard cold.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Lophocereus — the genus overview
- Lophocereus schottii — the senita, its better-known relative
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — cuttings · Repotting · Pests and diseases