Polaskia chichipe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Polaskia
Species:
P. chichipe
Binomial name
Polaskia chichipe
(Rol-.Goss.) A.C.Gibson & K.E.Horak
Synonyms

[2]

  • Lemaireocereus chichipe
  • Lemaireocereus mixtecensis
  • Myrtillocactus chichipe

Polaskia chichipe is a succulent cactus native to a small area of mountains of northern Oaxaca and southern Puebla, Mexico. It grows in xerophytic shrubland between 1,600 and 2,300 meters above sea level.[1]

Description

Polaskia chichipe forms short main stem, Terminal branches 7 to 9 cm wide, slightly arched, light green, form a compact crown, 2-5 meter tall branching stems near the shoot tips with spines. It reaches heights of growth of 3 to 5 m tall and sometimes forms a clear trunk. The green, slightly curved shoots are less than 1 meter long and have a diameter of up to 7 centimeters.There are 9 to 12 sharp-edged ribs, 1 to 2 cm high, that are slightly curved and wavy on the back and that are up to 2 centimeters high. The areoles are 3 to 5 mm long, 1 to 1.5 centimeters apart. The thorns are gray with a darker tip. The single central spine is up to 1.5 centimeters, the 6 to 8 radial spines 0.3 to 1.5 centimeters long.

The yellowish green to creamy white flowers open at night. They are 2 to 4 centimeters long, 3 cm long and reach a diameter of 3 to 4 centimeters. The bracts 3 to 4 mm long and 4 mm wide, ovate, fleshy, spines less than 1 mm long. External tepals 1 to 1.4 cm long, 0.3 to 0.5 cm wide, oblong, revolute (leaves that curve at their edges towards the underside or external face thereof), yellowish white; internal tepals 1.2 to 1.8 cm long and about 0.3 cm wide; stamens 0.8 to 1.5 cm long; style 1. 3 to 1.5 cm long.

The spherical fruits are deep reddish purple, 2 to 3.3 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide, globose, red, deciduous areoles when ripe, spines 5 to 7, 2 to 4 mm long, purple-red flesh; seeds 1.2 to 1.4 mm long that bloom between March and June.[2][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2013). "Polaskia chichipe". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T152412A121592100. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152412A121592100.en. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Polaskia Species, Chichipe, Chichibe, Chichituna", Dave's garden, retrieved 20 February 2022


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