Eriosyce robusta

Eriosyce robusta

Eriosyce robusta (F.Ritter) P.C.Guerrero & Helmut Walter

A strongly spined cactus of the La Campana area, with broad ribs and large areoles. The Ocoa population is an important example of genetic distinctness in the former Eriosyce curvispina complex [Villalobos-Barrantes et al. 2022] [Walter et al. 2024].

2 min readUpdated 21 October 2026

A distinct Ocoa lineage

The 2024 revision assigned the Ocoa plants to Eriosyce robusta, now accepted by POWO. The 2022 microsatellite study found low variation in this population relative to the other sampled localities. Interpretation applies to the small sample of nine individuals and the markers used. The result identifies a population important for further conservation research [Villalobos-Barrantes et al. 2022] [Walter et al. 2024] [2-WWW].

Ribs, areoles and flowers

The globose, sometimes elongated stem measures about 10–20 cm in diameter. Fibrous roots accompany a body with 13–20 broad, deeply notched ribs. Large areoles reach 7–20 mm in length and are separated by about 1–4 cm. Spines are strong and grey-brown. Rib and areole proportions are important diagnostic characters [Walter et al. 2024].

Flowers are about 4–5 cm long, with an elongated brownish-red region surrounding the ovary. Tepals are purple or carmine in their lower portions and pale yellow above. Seed-coat sculpture combines tubercles and ridges. Together these characters support comparison with the other lineages of the complex [Walter et al. 2024].

La Campana and threats

The known range is centred on La Campana. Development, transmission infrastructure, intensive agriculture and fires affect its habitat. The 2024 revision’s authors proposed Endangered, EN, with an extent of occurrence below 5000 km². Conserving diversity in the genus includes maintaining such local populations together with their surrounding habitats [Walter et al. 2024].

Hidden diversity in Eriosyce. DNA, geography and pollinators in species recognition

Synonyms and names in the literature

Pyrrhocactus robustus · Neochilenia robusta · Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta · Eriosyce curvispina subsp. robusta · Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. robusta · Horridocactus robustus · Neochilenia robusta var. vegasana · Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. vegasana · Pyrrhocactus horridus var. robustus · Pyrrhocactus robustus var. vegasanus [2-WWW]

Related plant cards

Eriosyce curvispinaEriosyce

Created 21 October 2026

Last modified 21 October 2026

Sources for this account

[2-WWW]Source website

Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

https://powo.science.kew.org/

Accepted names, synonyms and distribution. A citation beside a taxon leads to its record.

Accessed 2026-10-08.

Article2022

Independent Evolutionary Lineages in a Globular Cactus Species Complex Reveals Hidden Diversity in a Central Chile Biodiversity Hotspot

Villalobos-Barrantes H. M., Meriño B. M., Walter H. E., Guerrero P. C., Independent Evolutionary Lineages in a Globular Cactus Species Complex Reveals Hidden Diversity in a Central Chile Biodiversity Hotspot, Genes, 2022, 13(2):240, doi: 10.3390/genes13020240

This study of the Eriosyce curvispina complex combines a five-region DNA phylogeny with 12 microsatellite markers in nine populations. It reveals independent lineages and geographically structured variation. The authors discuss consequences for species delimitation and conservation while leaving formal nomenclatural changes to subsequent research.

Physiology and anatomyGenusEriosyce

DOI ↗Article or source page ↗

Article2024

Taxonomic dissection based on molecular evidence of the Eriosyce curvispina complex (Cactaceae): identifying nine endemic species from Central Chile

Walter H. E., Cádiz-Véliz A., Meriño B. M., Villalobos-Barrantes H. M., Guerrero P. C., Taxonomic dissection based on molecular evidence of the Eriosyce curvispina complex (Cactaceae): identifying nine endemic species from Central Chile, PhytoKeys, 2024, 237:117-139, doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.237.107403

A revision of the Eriosyce curvispina complex recognizes nine species using molecular evidence, morphology, distribution and historical nomenclature. It provides an identification key, diagnostic descriptions, habitat information and proposed threat categories. Material from the vicinity of the original locality helps establish a narrower application of E. curvispina.