{{Short description|Genus of plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Espostoa lanata, Huntington.jpg |image_caption = ''[[Espostoa lanata]]'' |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Espostoa |authority = [[Nathaniel Lord Britton|Britton]] & [[Joseph Nelson Rose|Rose]]<ref name=POWO_295142-2/> |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = [[#Species list|See text]]. |type_species = ''[[Espostoa lanata]]'' |synonyms = {{Species list |Binghamia|Britton & Rose, nom. illeg. |Pseudoespostoa|Backeb. |Thrixanthocereus|Backeb. }} |synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO_295142-2/> }}

'''''Espostoa''''' is a [[genus]] of columnar [[cactus|cacti]], comprising 16 [[species]] known from the [[Andes]] of southern [[Ecuador]] and [[Peru]]. It usually lives at an altitude of between 800m and 2500m. Its fruit is edible, sweet, and juicy. The genus is named after Nicolas E. Esposto, a renowned botanist from Lima.<ref name="Yetman 2008 p. ">{{cite book | last=Yetman | first=David | title=The Great Cacti | publisher=University of Arizona Press | date=2008-01-31 | isbn=978-0-8165-4637-4 | page=}}</ref> [[Image:Espostoa nana 1.jpg|thumb|''[[Espostoa melanostele]]'' subsp. ''nana'']]

==Description== Members of this genus are similar to those in the Mexican genus [[Cephalocereus]]. They have pink-white flowers, and are covered with spines and white hair. In adulthood, a [[cephalium]] sometimes appears, similar to the Mexican genus ''[[Cephalocereus]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Britton |first=Nathaniel Lord |title=The Cactaceae |last2=Joseph Nelson |first2=J. N. |publisher=[[Carnegie Institution of Washington]] |volume=2 |publication-date=1920 |page=60 |language=en}}</ref> Only the older specimens can divide.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} The cephalium is elongated and forms along the outer side of each column facing away from the center of the plant.<ref>Mauseth et al, Cactus Odyssey, page 131.</ref> This kind of [[inflorescence]] is unique to the cactus family.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

== Taxonomy == They were discovered by [[Alexander von Humboldt]] and [[Aimé Bonpland]] in the early nineteenth century.

They are appreciated for their decorative qualities due to their white fleece. They can be propagated by seed. For full development they must be planted in the ground. The cultivated specimens very rarely flourish.

Like all cacti, ''Espostoa'' requires a sunny location and well-drained soil. But in summer, it appreciates fertilizer and wetter conditions. In winter, it needs a rest{{clarify|date=June 2020}}, but the temperature must not drop below 12&nbsp;°C.

=== Species list === {{As of|2023|October}}, [[Plants of the World Online]] accepted the following species:<ref name=POWO_295142-2>{{Cite POWO|title=''Espostoa'' Britton & Rose|id=295142-2|access-date=2023-10-08|mode=cs1}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Image !! Scientific name !! Distribution |- |[[File:Espostoa blossfeldiorum 03 ies.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa blossfeldiorum]]'' {{small|(Werderm.) Buxb.}} ||Peru |- | || ''[[Espostoa calva]]'' {{small|F.Ritter}} || Peru (Amazonas) |- | || ''[[Espostoa cremnophila]]'' {{small|Hoxey}} || Peru |- |[[File:Espostoa frutescens 255958510.jpg|120px]]|| ''[[Espostoa frutescens]]'' {{small|Madsen}} ||Ecuador |- |[[File:Espostoa hylaea 1zz.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa hylaea]]'' {{small|F.Ritter}} ||Peru (Amazonas) |- |[[File:Espostoa lanata-IMG 1935.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa lanata]]'' {{small|(Kunth) Britton & Rose}} ||Ecuador, Peru |- |[[File:Espostoa melanostele pm02.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa melanostele]]'' {{small|(Vaupel) Borg}} ||Peru |- |[[File:Espostoa mirabilis 1.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa mirabilis]]'' {{small|F.Ritter}} || Peru (Huanuco) |- |[[File:Espostoa senilis.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Espostoa senilis]]'' {{small|(F.Ritter) N.P.Taylor}} ||Peru (Ancash) |- | || ''[[Espostoa superba]]'' {{small|F.Ritter}} ||Peru (Ancash) |- | || ''[[Espostoa utcubambensis]]'' {{small|G.J.Charles}} ||Peru (Amazonas) |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * Innes C, Wall B (1995). ''Cacti' Succulents and Bromaliads''. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society. * Edward F. Anderson : "The Cactus Family" (2001)

== External links == {{Wikispecies-inline|Espostoa}} * {{in lang|en}} [http://www.cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Espostoa photos onr www.cactiguide.com] * {{in lang|en}} [http://holiday.monacoeye.com/jardinexotique/cactusphotos/page7-1043-full.html Espostoa guentheri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627005303/http://holiday.monacoeye.com/jardinexotique/cactusphotos/page7-1043-full.html |date=2006-06-27 }} {{commons category|position=left|Espostoa}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q133254}}

[[Category:Cereeae]] [[Category:Cacti of South America]] [[Category:Flora of Ecuador]] [[Category:Flora of Peru]] [[Category:Flora of the Andes]] [[Category:Cereeae genera]]

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