Espostoa melanostele is a species of rare,[1] endangered, long-lived, slow-growing plant in the family Cactaceae.
| Espostoa melanostele | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Espostoa |
| Species: | E. melanostele
|
| Binomial name | |
| Espostoa melanostele (Vaupel) Borg
| |
Endangerment
editHorticultural collection and the fact that the plant is slow growing contribute to the fact that the plant is endangered.
Drought tolerance
editThis xerophyte is tolerant of most droughts when mature.
Subspecies
edit- Espostoa melanostele subsp. melanostele
- Espostoa melanostele subsp. nana (F.Ritter) G.J.Charles synonym Espostoa nana F.Ritter
Uses
editThe plant is not only used for its fruit, but also grown for decorative qualities, such as its yellow flowers and its white ''fleece''.
Cultivars
editA cultivar, E. melanostele 'Peruvian old lady', is so-named because of its resemblance to an old lady (especially when flowering and fruiting).
Hazards
editThe spines may be considered a hazard to children, but actually come off the skin very easily with proper handling.
References
edit- CX Furtado, (1964). Concerning the types of genera, Taxon.
