Oreocereus

Oreocereus contains a small number of columnar cacti coming from high altitude areas in the Andes mountains of South-America. They vary in shape from prostrate clusters to 10 feet tall columnar species (3 m). All the species are covered with an abundant hair like material that protects them from the sunlight, and probably also from abrupt temperature variations. The name Oreocereus comes from the Greek for 'mountain Cereus'.

Mature cacti produce showy light colored flowers in summer. The Oreocereus are generally propagated from seeds.

Species and varieties
Oreocereus bruennowii (Old Man of the Mountain) synonym of Oreocereus trollii
Oreocereus celsianus (Old Man of the Andes)
Oreocereus celsianus var. bruennowii (Old Man of the Mountain) synonym of Oreocereus trollii
Oreocereus irigoyenii (Old Man of the Mountain) synonym of Oreocereus trollii
Oreocereus maximus (Old Man of the Andes) synonym of Oreocereus celsianus
Oreocereus neocelsianus (Old Man of the Andes) synonym of Oreocereus celsianus
Oreocereus trollii (Old Man of the Mountain)

© 2004 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.