Eriosyce villosa

Eriosyce villosa is a small cactus from coastal Chile. It belongs to the cactus family, Cactaceae. Its native range covers the Atacama and Coquimbo regions. Plants grow between Totoral Bajo and Carrizallilo, including the Huasco area. The species lives on rocky ground in coastal hills. It occurs from sea level to about 2,625 feet [800 metres]. Kew places it in desert or dry shrubland. Its Spanish common name is Quisco Peludo.

The plant grows alone rather than forming a broad clump. Its rounded young stem becomes a short column with age. It reaches about 0.49 feet [0.15 metres] tall. The stem measures up to 0.26 feet [0.08 metres] across. Its colour ranges from grey-green to very dark green. Some stems have a deep purple tone that looks almost black. A large, swollen tap-root grows beneath the stem. The body has 13–15 strong ribs with deep notches between areoles.

Large areoles bear felt and a mix of fine spines. The number and density of these spines vary between plants. Each areole has about 12–20 radial spines. These range from stiff bristles to soft-looking hairs. Their shades include white, grey and brown. The central spines tend to be darker than the radials. They reach roughly 0.10–0.13 feet [0.03–0.04 metres] long. Their colour ranges from glossy golden brown to black.

Several small flowers can open together near the stem tip. They emerge from young areoles and have narrow, funnel-like tubes. Each bloom spans about 0.07–0.08 feet [0.02–0.025 metres]. Magenta and purple-pink petals surround a paler throat. Long wool and white bristles cover the floral tubes. LLIFLE reports the main flowering flush in April. Some plants also flower in winter. Buds may form late in the year before flowering. The red fruits have an elongated shape. They open through pores at their base.

LLIFLE describes this species as easy to grow. Its flowers and fine spines provide its main visual interest. Growers usually raise new plants from seed, as offsets are scarce. In the wild, occasional rain supports the surrounding coastal vegetation. LLIFLE reports a stable population and frequent plants. It also identifies illegal collecting and steel-related development as threats.