Rhodocactus bahiensis
Rhodocactus bahiensis is a species of tree-like cactus that is endemic to the Brazilian state of Bahia. First described as Pereskia bahiensis, it was transferred to Rhodocactus in 2016. Like all species in the genus Rhodocactus, and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. In its native locality, it is used to form hedges.
Description
Rhodocactus bahiensis grows as a small tree or a shrub, reaching high, with trunks to in diameter. The young twigs are green or reddish, and have a few stomata, mainly around the areoles. Mature stems develop grayish-brown bark. Like all species of Rhodocactus and unlike most other cacti, R. bahiensis has persistent leaves, the largest being up to long and wide. The leaves are succulent and have very short petioles, only long. The areoles bear leaves along with spines. The areoles on the twigs have up to six spines, those on the trunks may have about 45, each or exceptionally long. The pink to reddish-purple flowers are either solitary or borne in small terminal inflorescences of 2–12, and are across. The fruits are more-or-less pear-shaped, long, containing many glossy black seeds.In its native habitat, R. bahiensis flowers in the spring and summer, from October to April, and fruits in the autumn from March to June. It then loses its leaves in the winter dry season from about June to October.