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Common name: Sea Urchin Cactus, Easter lily cactus
Botanical name: Echinopsis spp. Family: Cactaceae (cactus family)
Sea Urchin Cactus is a cactus native to South America. Echinopsis is a large
genus, and the 128 species range from large and treelike types to small
globose cacti. The name derives from echinos hedgehog or sea urchin, and opsis
appearance, a reference to these plants' dense coverings of spines. They are
remarkable for the great size, length of tube, and beauty of their flowers,
which, borne upon generally small and dumpy stems, appear much larger and more
attractive than would be expected. The flowers open only at night, to be
pollinated by moths, and close in the morning. The flowers are short-lived.
They grow only in situations where the soil
is sandy or gravelly, or on the sides of hills in the crevices of rocks.
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