Pilosocereus azulensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pilosocereus azulensis | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Pilosocereus |
| Species: | P. azulensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pilosocereus azulensis N.P.Taylor & Zappi | |
Pilosocereus azulensis is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1] Pilosocereus azulensis is commonly referred to as Xique-Xique-Azul or Facheiro do Azul in Brazil although it has no affiliation with the genus Xiquexique.[2]
Pilosocereus azulensis is a tree-like or shrubby cactus that branches above its base and can grow up to 10 meters tall. Its smooth shoots, which range in color from olive green to a bluish hue, have a diameter of 8 to 9.5 centimeters. The shoots possess 6 to 12 ribs, often marked by transverse furrows. The areoles are spaced 5 to 7 millimeters apart and bear slender, opaque spines that are yellowish-brown in color. Each shoot has between 1 and 11 central spines that are 0.5 to 4 centimeters long, and 8 to 12 radial spines that spread out and measure 3 to 13 millimeters. The flowering portion of the shoots is not very prominent, with flowers emerging from areoles located on 1 to 3 ribs at the tip of the shoots or just below. These flowers are adorned with white to gray hairs up to 3 centimeters in length.
The flowers are wide-open and light green on the outside, measuring 5.5 to 6.7 centimeters long and 4.7 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The fruits are depressingly spherical, with diameters of 4.2 to 6 centimeters, and they split open laterally to reveal magenta-colored flesh.[3]
Distribution
Pilosocereus azulensis can be found in Pedra Azul municipality, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
