Cactaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Echinopsis formosa

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Echinopsis formosa is a spiny, succulent cactus producing a single stem when young but later branching basally to form wide colonies. Individual stems are globose to cylindrical, up to 150cm tall and 25 - 50cm in diameter[ 1987 Title The Cactus Family Publication Author Anderson E.F. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2001 ISBN 0-88192-498-9 Description An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation.. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. Echinopsis formosa has a wide range, is abundant and is found in protected areas. However it is threatened in parts of its range by illegal collecting of the plants for horticulture and by mining activities. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - northwest Argentina, northern Chile, Bolivia

HabitatGrassland, mountane shrubland and higher montane levels; at elevations from 1,000 - 4,000 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].