Table of Contents
TPQC
Photo credits to Darren of Succulent Source
Description
The TPQC (Trichocereus pachanoi “quasi-cristata”) is described as a non-PC *Trichocereus pachanoi* type. It is notable for its tendency to develop cristate growth, which the original grower initially attributed to an apparent snail attack, though genetic predisposition is also considered. The plant is generally vigorous and grows “quite fat,” producing both cristate and columnar sections. Spines are described as “intermediate length,” contributing to a “peruvianus/macrogonus look” that places it within the *pachanoi* continuum.
History & Origin
The TPQC clone was discovered by the user `nitrogen - corroborree` approximately 10 years prior to their post on 2014-06-08, placing its acquisition around 2004. It was found at a nursery in a local Target store in the USA, which was considered an unusual find at the time given that hardware stores typically carried predominantly “PC” (predominant cultivar) *T. pachanoi*. The name “Quasi-Cristata” was coined by `nitrogen - corroborree` to reflect its crested growth, which they initially believed was induced by a snail attack rather than being purely genetic. Another grower, Zelly, is mentioned to have a cutting from this clone that grew to a spectacular 10 feet tall.
Cultivation Notes
The plant is described as “beautiful,” “generally vigorous,” and grows “quite fat.” `nitrogen - corroborree` noted that despite not taking good care of it for a couple of years, it remained beautiful, suggesting a degree of resilience. It has been successfully used in breeding, producing crosses such as TPQC x TPM and N1 x TPQC.
Community Discussion & Citations
The primary source of information for TPQC is the user `nitrogen - corroborree`, who originally identified, named, and cultivated this specific clone. Their posts provide a detailed history, observations on its growth habit, and insights into its genetic potential.
| Date | Speaker | Confidence Score | Key Insight/Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-09-18 | nitrogen - corroborree | 9 | “The T. pachanoi “quasi-cristata” (TPQC) is a non-PC pachanoi type that grew crested after an apparent snail attack - maybe it is genetic in there somewhere and the snail attack caused it to come out, or maybe it is purely from the infection - regardless its a beautiful pachanoi though I haven't taken good care of it these past couple years.” |
| 2013-02-08 | nitrogen - corroborree | 9 | “Well, it went cristata, and those sections keep growing cristata, but it has also put out some columnar sections which continue to grow.. I'm curious to see if the TPQC x TPM cross puts out more mutants than the other crosses in which TPM was the father - if so then I guess we can deduce that the TPQC's behavior is at least partially genetic rather than some weird mutation brought on by slug infection or whatever.” |
| 2014-06-07 | nitrogen - corroborree | 9 | “Yea the one I have didn't have any crested in it either for years - I think it developed the trait due to snail attack rather than genetics - which is why I term the “Quasi-Cristata” - the N1 x TPQC cross has so far not turned up any mutants either, which leads to feel more confident in the snail-attack explanation - though they are gorgeous little phenos in their own right.” |
| 2014-06-08 | nitrogen - corroborree | 9 | “I'm now pretty sure that Altmans is indeed the same clone as my “TPQC, which in the Connoisseur Hybrids 2012” thread I just describe as a “non-PC pachanoi type.” I found the “TPQC” about 10 years ago at the nursery in a local Target… It is a beautiful plant, generally vigorous, and gets quite fat… if you look at the pachanoi types from Peru, there are all sorts of them that have these intermediate length spines and so forth and a generally sort of peruvianus/macrogonus look - this one seems to be on that continuum somewhere.” |
Credibility Notes
The user `nitrogen - corroborree` was assigned a high confidence score (9/10) because they are the original grower, namer, and primary source of information for the TPQC clone. Their posts span several years, providing consistent, detailed, and evolving observations on the plant's origin, growth habits, and breeding characteristics. While they humbly state they are not an expert in *Trichocereus* identification, their direct, long-term experience with this specific clone makes their insights highly credible for its specific history and observed traits.
✍️ Contributors: capslock