Quiabentia verticillata
Quiabentia verticillata is a species of cactus found in the neotropical forests of the Gran Chaco region.
Description
It is an erect woody succulent plant, growing tree-shaped or shrub-like and reaches heights of. Its leaves, which are approximately long and up to wide, are oval to lanceolate. Like many cacti, it bears leaves which have become specialized as spines. The spines consist of the stipules of the leaves, and protect the plant from browsing by herbivores. It also bears a second type of leaf that is thickened and fleshy, with a somewhat angular cross-section. These leaves and the stems of the plant enable the storage of water. The bright red flowers are 1.5 centimeters long.
Distribution
Quiabentia verticillata is found in the neotropical forests of the Gran Chaco region. It grows in dry sandy soils, typically found at the edge of fields, in wastelands, at the side of roads, and opportunistically in vineyards and orchards when they are not irrigated.
Taxonomy
The first description was made in 1923 by Friedrich Karl Johann Vaupel. The specific epithet "verticillata" comes from Latin, means "whorled" and refers to the shape of the branching of the shoots of the species. Curt Backeberg reassigned the species to genus Quiabentia in 1936. Other nomenclature synonyms are Quiabentia verticillata Borg and Grusonia verticillata G.D. Rowley.
Cultivation and uses
Like most cacti, it is a xerophyte, capable of growing in areas receiving very little precipitation. It has a laterally extensive, shallow root system.