DELTOIDEA   Pino & Vilcapoma, 2018

Series Racemosae

Type : G. Vilcopoma & M. Flores 0735, collected at Sotoconca Cliff, Dist. Lachaqui, Prov. Canta, Dept. Lima, Peru, 3700 m Jun 2, 1990.

Etymology : The name refers to the triangular shape of the leaves.

Distribution : Widespread in the Departments of Lima, Huánuco, Pasco (probably), Junin and Huancavelica, but with very few, scattered localities and few individuals, only abundant in Canta province near the town of Lachaqui.

A summary of Pino's description :

Plant glabrous, solitary or proliferous.

Stem subterranean, usually short, up to 30 cm long in very old plants.

Rosette usually one at the end of stem, up to 3 (-6) in very old plants, 15 - 25 cm in diameter.

Leaves narrowly triangular to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 10 - 15 (-20) cm long, 4 - 6 cm wide at widest part at middle, 3 - 5 mm thick, light green in rainy period, otherwise light blue to light glaucous green tinged purple, mucro reddish.

Flowering stem a raceme, light glaucous green to pink, bracts evenly spaced, oblong to lanceolate, 2 - 6 (-9) cm long, up to 1.8 cm wide, flowers (18-) 22 - 30, pedicels mostly short.

Flowers : Sepals unequal, 5 - 8 x 3 - 4 mm, corolla pyramidal, 1.7 - 1.9 cm long, salmon red with some yellowish stripes, apex of petals slightly recurving.

Flowering time April to June.

Note :

In the past E. deltoidea has been confused with E. andicola - both species are growing in the Departments of Huánuco and Junin -  however the latter blooms in late summer while E. deltoidea blooms in winter. Leaves of E. deltoidea are markedly triangular compared to the obovate-oblong leaves of E. andicola. The latter also has smaller flowers, only 1 - 1.2 cm long with an even orange red colour.

First published in Cactus & Succulent Journal US 90(3): 168-174, 2018.