Copiapoa

'Habitats becoming increasingly arid'

Copiapoa solaris is a short, columnar species up to 12 cm thick, grey-green and provided with strong, yellow-brown spines. In the wild they sprout from the base so that they form groups with dozens of trunks. These clusters can reach a diameter of 2 m. The flowers are yellow (infrequently pink) and appear at the top of the plant. They have felty hairs on the outer surface as an extra adaptation against the aridity.

Ecology and habit

This species only grows in the region close to the town of Antofagasta in north Chile. The total area has a coverage of about 1500 km2 and the populations are very fragmented. There are really only two locations remaining, these lie at 600 – 1000 m above sea level. The region encompasses part of the Chilean coastal desert and is exceptionally dry. The plants grow on hills along the coast on mineral soil derived from weathered granite. Due to the extreme aridity there are few other plant species that can survive here. The landscape is largely characterised by Copiapoas. As with related species, Copiapoa humilis, Copiapoa solaris can take in water via its spines when it condenses as droplets from sea mist. Seed are provided with a swollen ‘umbilical cord’ and ants aid their dispersal.

Threat

The perils for this species are similar to those encountered by <em">Copiapoa humilis. Mining and road construction form the greatest threat. An additional problem is climate change which is making their natural habitats drier than they already are. Due to this the number of mature adults has been steadily decreasing during the last few years. The Chilean government has as of yet not put in place protective measures for this species.