Eriosyce laui

Eriosyce laui
Date: 2005 October 9

This enigmatic species is known only from a small area of Chile, where hardly any other plants at all are capable of surviving, which is why this small soft-bodied cactus, discovered by Alfred Lau, was a surprising find in the area. Its relationships among the cacti remain unclear, and the monotypic genus Rimacactus has been erected for it.

This plant was grafted on Pereskiopsis as a tiny seedling, which has accelerated its growth, and now, as a clump of heads approximately 7cm in diameter, it is far larger than a plant would ever be in habitat.

It is here shown with developing fruits.