About Leucostele chiloensis (Colla) Schlumpb.
Leucostele chiloensis (Colla) Schlumpb. is a tree-like cactus with straight, vigorous branching structures that reaches up to 8 meters in length. Its shoots are cylindrical, 10 to 12 centimeters in diameter, and bear 16 to 17 mostly low, wide ribs. Bright yellow spines located on the glochids turn gray as they age. This species has one straight central spine that is 4 to 7 centimeters long, rarely reaching up to 20 centimeters. It has 8 to 12 radial spines that grow from lateral positions, measuring 1 to 2 centimeters or longer. The flowers are funnel-shaped, white, open during the day, and can grow up to 14 centimeters long. The fruits are spherical, green, and edible. This species is known to occur within La Campana National Park in Chile.
Leucostele chiloensis ranges from northern to southern central Chile, where it grows in coastal areas, valleys, and Andean foothills at elevations up to 1800 meters. It was first described as Cactus chiloensis by Luigi Colla and published in 1826. After several taxonomic recombinations, Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Douglas Rowley reclassified it into the genus Echinopsis in 1974.
