What is the Silver Torch Cactus?

Silver torch cactus is a cactus native to the high mountains of Bolivia and Argentina. Its slender, erect, gray-green columns can reach a height of 10 ft but are usually only about 2.5 in across. The columns are formed from around 25 ribs and are densely covered with areoles, supporting four yellow-brown spines up to 2 in long and 20 shorter white radials. Older cacti, over 1.5 ft tall, produce deep red, burgundy, flowers in late summer. The 3 in long cylindrical flowers protrude horizontally from the columns. In common with other cacti in the genus Cleistocactus, the flowers hardly open, with only the style and stamens protruding. Cacti have thick cuticles that limit the loss of water. This means that they have the ability to survive in dry conditions where there is little rainfall. However, this cuticle also prevents CO2 from diffusing into the body of the cactus. This is because CO2 molecules are larger than water molecules and so the water would diffuse out of the cactus quicker than CO2 diffused into it. Therefore it only allows CO2 to diffuse into the cactus during the night as this keeps the loss of water to a minimum.

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