Echinopsis Oxygona Variegated cactus

Echinopsis Oxygona Origin and Habitat: Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz y Tarija), Argentina (Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, Salta, Santa Fe andSantiago del Estero), Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil.
Altitude: Echinopsis oxygona occurs at elevations from 50 to 1,000 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: The species grows on walls and rocky outcrops in pampa grasslands and deciduous forests. It is abundant, but sparse and the subpopulations are generally stable and there are no major threats affecting it. Grazing, cattle trampling, agriculture, invasive grasses, and fire may represent threats. They are pollinated by insects or small animals, principally moths and bees.

Description: Echinopsis oxygona, the “Easter Lily Cactus”, is known for having gorgeous, night-blooming, pink flowers at the ends of long tubes often as large or larger than the whole plant, it is very popular. The flower has a sweet smell. It is very variable.
Habit: These cacti grow rapidly and usually forms big clumps up to 60 cm in diameter.
Stem: The stems is depressed globose, globose to elongate, eventually short cylindrical, clustering from near the base, green passing to greyish green or somewhat glaucous, (5-)10-15(-25) cm in diameter up to 30 cm high.
Ribs: 11-18, straight , broad at base, rounded on back .
Areoles: About 1 cm apart.
Spines: Very short to 2,5 cm long and stout, hard, blackish, yellowish-brown or horn coloured with dark tips, spreading and more or less curved.
Central spines: 1-5, sometimes absent, thick, needle-like 5-30 mm long, eventually up to 40 mm long.
Radial spines: The areoles have 3-15, more or less needle-like radial spines, 3 to 25 mm long.
Flowers: Usually from areoles halfway up the side of the plant, white, pink, pale red to lavender, funnel-shaped, fragrant with long tubes 15-22(-30) cm long, 5-10 cm in diameter, the tube slender, nearly cylindric, its scales numerous and small: Inner perianth-segments acute or acuminate. Old plant may have dozen of stunning flowers open at a time.
Blooming season: This species blooms from late spring to all summer long. The flower last only one day in full beauty, they open at evening and start to wither the next afternoon on hot days. On cool days they will last longer.
Fruit: Fruits green, to 4 cm long and 2 cm in diameter.
Remarks: This plant has been widely crossed with other species of Echinopsis and the number of cultivars seems unending. The flowers are lovely and are available in an assortment of bright colours ranging from magenta, red, orange, to yellow, and much sought-after by Cactophiles everywhere.