Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis

Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Weberbauerocereus
Species:	W. cuzcoensis
Binomial name
Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis Kníže 1968
Synonyms
Echinopsis hennigiana Anceschi & Magli 2021 Haageocereus cuzcoensis (Kníže) P.V.Heath 1995 Haageocereus cuzcoensis var. tenuarboreus (F.Ritter) P.V.Heath 1995 Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis var. tenuiarboreus F.Ritter 1981

Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis is a species of Weberbauerocereus from Peru.^[2]

Description

Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis grows like a tree with richly branched, sprawling, grey-green shoots with a diameter of 4 to 7 centimeters and reaches heights of 3 to 4 meters with 10 to 14 ribs that are 6 to 11 millimeters high and extremely blunt. The areoles on the stem are oval to circular and covered with white wool and strong, yellow to brownish spines. There are three to eight, hardly stinging central spines are 1 to 4 centimeters and 10 to 14 radial spines 3 to 10 millimeters long. The lowest radial spines are the longest.

The somewhat radially symmetrical, unpleasantly scented flowers open at night. They are 10 to 12 centimeters long. Its light green flower tube is covered with brownish hairs. The bracts are white at their base and turn pale pink towards the tip. The fruits are dark green, 4 centimeters long and reach a diameter of 3 centimeters.^[3]

Distribution

Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis is distributed in the Peruvian regions of Apurímac and Ayacucho at altitudes of 1500 to 2100 meters.

Taxonomy

The first description was in 1969 by Karel Kníže. The specific epithet cuzcoensis refers to the occurrence of the species near Cuzco. A nomenclature synonym is Haageocereus cuzcoensis (Kníže) P.V.Heath (1995).

References