Old Man of the Andes, Silver Torch (Cleistocactus samaipatanus)

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Feb 15, 2005

Old Man of the Andes, Silver Torch
Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Growing in zone 9a with 5 nights of frost protection

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TucsonJen Tucson, AZ(Zone 9a) Feb 17, 2005

OK, what's the deal with the common names of this cactus? It has short, golden spines not long, silver ones!

Shouldn't it be Young Lady of the Andes? *grin*

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Feb 17, 2005

You know how common names go.....they are always getting changed, contorted, and reassigned, and made-up all the time. Have you been able to find any other common names that may seem appropriate?

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TucsonJen Tucson, AZ(Zone 9a) Feb 17, 2005

I haven't seen *any* common names associated with this one other than here on Dave's. I've looked around a bit out of curiosity.

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Feb 17, 2005

I found no reference linking the common names to this species either, in books or internet.
Instead, the common name 'Old Man of the Andes' belongs to 'Oreocereus celsianus' and Oreocerus trollii'.
The name 'Silver torch' belongs to 'Cleistocactus strausii' and 'Cleistocactus hyalacanthus'.

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jimmieterry San Francisco, CA Jun 10, 2009

I recently bought a plant that looks similar to this from a nursery, but the owner did not know the name, other than to say that it is a "rattail". From looking at pictures, I identified it as a cleistocactus winteri - aka "golden rattail". ( This is different than the standard aporocactus rattail.)
Then another friend told me it is a cleistocactus samaipatnus. Can anybody explain the difference between a c. winteri and a c. samaipatnus? They look quite similar.
I have not seen the flowers yet.
Thanks

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Xenomorf Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9b) Jun 12, 2009

One difference is C. samaipatanus has thicker stems.
The color of the spines is another difference.

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