Neoporteria Violaciflora

Neoporteria Violaciflora has a relatively wide range from Antofagasta south to Caldera (coastal Atacama Desert) Atacama, Chile. It is found in inaccessible areas in the coast and into the nearby hills (lomas costeras) mainly on rock crevices in cliffs and in rocky slopes. It is also found in dry sandy soils in flats below the fog zone. The species is very scarce but seems stable. The total population size is estimated to be 700 mature individuals. Description: spiny geophytic cactus with solitary (or sometime branching) stems rising barely above ground level (in habitat). It shows a certain degree of variability depending on origin. Stem: Globose or semi-globular to elongate (especially in cultivation) (3-)8(-15) cm in diameter and 5-8(-15) cm tall, dull dark green, in the sun often tinged with purple. Roots: Fibrous, arising from a short, conical taproot. Ribs: (8-)10-13(-16) vertical, forming tubercles with chin-like protrusions. Areoles: Sunken, with creamy-white or yellowish felt. Spines: Spines variable, tannish-brown, dull grey-brown or black, somewhat glaucous except at apex turning chalky white or grey as they ages, straight to curved. Radial spines: 6-12(-20) thin, more or less curved or twisted intergrading with the centrals 3-20 mm long. Outer radials spines (6 to 12 ) often flexuous, straight; Inner radial spines (6-12) thicker more rigid. Central spines: 1-4(-6) straight or barely curved, rarely somewhat obscurely hooked at the apex, usually 3 cm. long, rarely up to 4 cm long, otherwise similar to inner radials. Flowers: Closely packed apically in top 2 or 3 young areoles areoles of a rib, one flower to an areole, narrow to broad funnel-form or campanulate, 3-4 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter or larger, fuchsia-purple, pink, pale yellow, creamy white to white. Pericarpel and tube very short (less than 2 cm long on the whole) with scales producing white woolly hairs and few twisting tan bristles up to 1 cm long in the upper pat of the tube. Tepals lanceolate up to 1,5 cm long, 2 to 3 mm broad, entire, uniformly colored or slightly lighter near margins, outer segments darker and merging with brown and green tube scales almost black apically. Stamens numerous about 8 mm long, fuchsia purple, whitish at the base, anthers and pollen yellow. Style stout, fuchsia-purple 15-17 mm long, 1,5 mm in diameter in the middle, stigma lobes fuchsia purple about 3 mm long. Blooming season: It has several flush of flowers in sequence at different times over an interval of several weeks from late spring/early summer to autumn, with heaviest flowering early and late in the period of time. Fruits: Elongate red, a bit hairy, with seeds loose within, dehiscing by basal pores. Watering Needs: Root prone it needs good drainage, waterings should regular in summer (do not overwater), to keep the plant compact and not become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. During the winter quiescent period, or when night temperatures remain below 10° C, it must be strictly kept dry since it is very sensitive to any moisture excesses. Sun Exposure: Full Sun Frost Tolerance: Hardy to at least -5°C for a short period but cannot tolerate long standing freezing temperature, and for an healthy cultivation ensure a minimum temperature of 5° C. Assure a good ventilation. USDA Hardiness Zone 9b and 11. Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz