Arthrocereus spinosissimus
Arthrocereus spinosissimus is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae from Brazil.[1][2] DescriptionArthrocereus spinosissimus grows upright with basally branching shoots. The up to one meter long, green to bright green shoots reach a diameter of 5 to 6 cm (2.0 to 2.4 in). The 16 (or more) ribs are 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) high. Numerous, thin, yellowish thorns emerge from the closely spaced areoles. There are 6 to 8 central spines that are usually 2 to 2.8 cm (0.79 to 1.10 in), occasionally up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) in length, and about 20 radial spines of 0.7 to 0.8 cm (0.28 to 0.31 in) in length. The white flowers are between 6 and 7 cm (2.4 and 2.8 in) long, the fruits between 2.5 and 3 cm (0.98 and 1.18 in). [3] DistributionArthrocereus spinosissimus is restricted to the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso at altitudes of 800 to 900 meters.[1] TaxonomyThe first description as Eriocereus spinosissimus by Albert Frederik Hendrik Buining and Arnold J. Brederoo was published in 1977 from Buining's estate.[4] The specific epithet spinosissimus is derived from the superlative of the Latin adjective spinosus for 'thorny'. Friedrich Ritter placed the species in the genus Arthrocereus in 1979.[5] References
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