Pilosocereus occultiflorus

Pilosocereus occultiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Subtribe: Cereinae
Genus: Pilosocereus
Species:
P. occultiflorus
Binomial name
Pilosocereus occultiflorus
P.J.Braun & Esteves

Pilosocereus occultiflorus is a species of cactus native to Brazil.[1]

Description

Pilosocereus occultiflorus is a tree-like cactus with a woody trunk up to 23 cm in diameter. Often branching meters above the ground, P. occultiflorus is candelabra-shaped and reaches heights of up to 7 meters. The slightly curved stems are dull gray-green, growing up to 3 meters long and 6 to 9.5 centimeters in diameter. On each stem, there are 8 to 9 triangular ribs in cross-section. The areoles on these ribs are spaced 5 to 9 millimeters apart. The spines are yellow, becoming gray with age. The areoles have 6 to 13 central spines (25 to 90 mm) and 20 radial spines (9 to 11 mm). A pronounced cephalium is present on mature stems. The floriferous areoles are covered with brown wool. The flowers are 3 to 4 cm long and reach diameters of 2 to 2.5 cm at anthesis. The fruits are 1.9 to 2.4 cm, splitting open when ripe.[2]

Taxonomy

Pilosocereus occultiflorus was first described by Pierre Josef Braun and Eddie Esteves Pereira in 1999. It is possibly a natural hybrid between Pilosocereus densiareolatus and Pilosocereus pachycladus subsp. pachycladus.[3]

Etymology

The specific epithet "occultiflorus" refers to the flowers hidden in the pseudocephalium. This epithet comes from the latin "occultus" meaning covered or hidden and the latin "florus" meaning flower.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Pilosocereus occultiflorus P.J.Braun & Esteves | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  2. ^ Braun, Pierre J.; Esteves, Eddie (1999). "Pilosocereus occultiflorus P.J.Braun & Esteves – A magnificent new species of Cactaceae from Brazil". Cactus and Succulent Journal. 71 (6): 311.
  3. ^ "Plant List". www.worldplants.de. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  4. ^ "Pilosocereus occultiflorus". Dictionary of Cactus Names. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  • Media related to Pilosocereus occultiflorus at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Pilosocereus occultiflorus at Wikispecies