Cleistocactus viridiflorus

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

Description

Cleistocactus viridiflorus grows to a height of, with a diameter of, 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.

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.

Taxonomy

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