= Copiapoa cupreata (Poselg. ex Rümpler) Backeb.
Cactaceae (Backeberg) 3: 1920. 1959 (Cactac. Handb. Kakteenk.) Backeb.
Accepted Scientific Name: Copiapoa echinoides (Lem.) Britton ex Rose in Britton & Rose
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 88, fig. 100. 1922 Britton & Rose
Echinocactus cupreatus (Copiapoa cupreata) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
KK 1382 (Collector: Karel Kníže)Vallenar, Chile, 800m.
Origin and Habitat: Northern Chile
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Copiapoa echinoides
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Copiapoa echinoides (Lem.) Britton ex Rose in Britton & RoseCactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 88, fig. 100. 1922Synonymy: 14
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Description: Copiapoa cupreaSN|1112]]SN|1112]]ta is a controversial name based on a poorly described Chilean plant of Poselger. The name cupreata is used by some authors to indicate a local form of Copiapoa echinoidesSN|1328]]SN|1109]], while other authors are inclined to believe that “cupreata” is a synonym of Copiapoa fiedlerianaSN|1109]]SN|1328]]. The following description is based on Walther Haage “Kakteen von A bis Z”:
Derivation: Latin Cupreata, copper coloured.
Stem: Spherical, dark brown.
Ribs: Divided into rhombic tubercles 5 mm tall with rounded edges.
Areoles: Sunken on the tubercles, grey.
Spines: About 6, 1-2 cm long, the upper the shorter, curved brown-black towards the tip and, yellow at the base.
Note: The so called “Copiapoa cupreaSN|1112]]SN|1112]]ta” KK1382 Vallenar, Chile 800m, (distributed by Karel Kníže) may be eventually described under a different name.
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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Copiapoa echinoides group
- Copiapoa bridgesii (Pfeiff.) Backeb.: has very spiny, cylindrical stems. Its relationship with Copiapoa echinoides is unclear. It is probably a good species rather than a variety of C. echinoides. Distribution: North of Chanaral, Atacama, Chile.
- Copiapoa cupreata (Poselg. ex Rümpler) Backeb.
- Copiapoa dura F.Ritter: Solitary, or forming dense clumps. The stem is firm, dark tannish-green to very dark-purple and woolly apically. The spines are very strong maroon-reddish to pure black, straight or (usually) somewhat curved upward.
- Copiapoa echinoides (Lem.) Britton ex Rose in Britton & Rose: small growing plant with dark purplish-brown stem and thick curved amber-maroon to black spines. This appears to be a very variable species.
- Copiapoa echinoides var. cuprea (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.: Stems dull green to dark coppery-brown and woolly apically spines, stout bwown to black, straight to somewhat curved upward.
- Copiapoa griseoviolacea I.Schaub & Keim: has a dark farinose violet-grey epidermis and a dense spine covering. Distribution: south of the Huasco river.
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Cultivation and Propagation: Watering Needs: The location has to be warm and bright, and it has to be in direct sun. Otherwise the bodies tend to elongate in cultivation, but they should be protected from excessive heat and sun in summer. In the spring and late summer, water moderately. Between these times there are dry rest periods. In the winter keep the plant absolutely dry. The roots need a lot of room, so make sure that the pot is large enough. Use regular cacti soil with very good drainage.
Propagation: Seeds (offsets rarely), Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in collection.