Cleistocactus viridiflorus

Cleistocactus viridiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Cleistocactus
Species:
C. viridiflorus
Binomial name
Cleistocactus viridiflorus
Backeb., 1963
Synonyms
  • Cephalocleistocactus pallidus Backeb. 1966
  • Cleistocactus palhuayensis F.Ritter & Shahori 1980
  • Cleistocactus palhuayensis var. camachoensis F.Ritter & Shahori 1980

Cleistocactus viridiflorus is a species of columnar cacti in the genus Cleistocactus.

Description

Cleistocactus viridiflorus grows to a height of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in), with a diameter of 1.5 to 4 cm (0.59 to 1.57 in), and has green stems that branch at the base. The plant features 14 to 19 slightly wavy ribs lined with densely spaced areolas. From these areolas, prominent, needle-like central spines emerge—about 10 mm long and ranging in color from whitish yellow to yellow. Around 20 radial spines, white and slightly protruding, measure between 5 and 7 mm.

Its flowers are straight and tubular, measuring 3 to 3.5 cm in length. They are colored from green to white or yellow-green and tend to barely open, as is typical for many species in the genus. The fruits are light green and 1.5 cm wide.[1]

Distribution

Cleistocactus viridiflorus is a shrub-like cactus native to Bolivia's La Paz department, typically found growing along with trees and shrubs at elevations between 1400 and 3200 meters.[2]

Taxonomy

Cleistocactus viridiflorus was first described by the German botanist Curt Backeberg in 1963, published in "Descriptiones Cactacearum Novarum 3: 5."

References

  1. ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. ISBN 978-3-8001-4573-7.
  2. ^ Lowry, Martin (2016). "A synopsis of the genusCleistocactusLemaire (Cactaceae)". Bradleya. 34 (34). British Cactus and Succulent Society: 148–186. doi:10.25223/brad.n34.2016.a6. ISSN 0265-086X.
  • Media related to Cleistocactus viridiflorus at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Cleistocactus viridiflorus at Wikispecies