Coleocephalocereus: Erect and semi-erect columnar cacti from Brazil developing a cephalium with wool and bristles. Flowers medium sized and fruits top shaped. |
 Coleocephalocereus fluminensis top cutting (Plant in flower, collection AWM) |
 Coleocephalocereus goebelianus top cutting (Plant in flower, collection AWM) |
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 Coleocephalocereus buxbaumianus: HBG 59877-A, BR495 Teofilo, Otoni 400m. |
 Coleocephalocereus fluminensis: (Miqu.) Backbg. (T.) HU230 Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
 Coleocephalocereus pluricostatus: (Buin.&Bred.) HU245 Minas Geraes Brazil 300m. |
Coleophalocereus goebelianus (Vpl) Ritt
Coleocephalocereus goebelianus comes from central Bahia, Brazil where it grows into a large plant up to two metres tall. When mature it produces a large bristly cephalium from which the rather small white nocturnal flowers emerge. Seedlings when small resemble a Melocacatus with hooked spines and in fact respond well to the same cultivation conditions - hot and relatively dry. They grow only slowly in th UK becoming columnar only after 4-5 years. The plant illustrated was from a habitat cutting (some 25 years ago) obtained from Mr Uebelmann's nusrsery in Switzerland. Cuttings such as this can be difficult to root and I had the plant for three years before it rooted by which time it was rather shrunken. In my desire to get it fattened up again I unfortunately over-watered it and lost it to a fungal rot attack. This was particularly unfortunate in that the black bristled cephalium on this particular specimen is less common than a more usual brownish one. While it was with me however it did flower and produce seed.