golden torch
Quick Summary
The golden torch, a type of torch cactus, is a ribbed, cylindrical plant native to South America. It belongs to the Echinopsis genus and can grow up to 2 meters tall with a diameter of about 7.5 cm. This cactus is known for its fragrant, white, funnel-shaped flowers that open at night.1
Other cacti sometimes referred to as torch cacti include members of the Echinopsis genus like E. atacamensis and E. peruviana, as well as the silver torch (Cleistocactus strausii) from Argentina and Bolivia, which has dense spines giving it a whitish appearance and bears narrow red flowers. In a broader sense, some cacti from the Pachycereus and Carnegiea genera, such as the saguaro, are also called torch cacti due to their large, funnel-shaped flowers.1
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