Pilosocereus albisummus

Pilosocereus albisummus is a species of Pilosocereus found in Minas Gerais, Brazil.^[2]

Pilosocereus albisummus
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Pilosocereus
Species:	P. albisummus
Binomial name
Pilosocereus albisummus P.J. Braun & Esteves Pereira 1987
Synonyms
Pilosocereus pachycladus subsp. albisummus (P.J.Braun & Esteves) Guiggi 2020 Pilosocereus estevesii P.J.Braun 1999 Pilosocereus goianus P.J.Braun & Esteves 2002

Description

Pilosocereus albisummus is a shrub or tree-like cactus with a defined trunk and upright, gray-green shoots that can grow up to 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) in diameter and reach a height of 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in) with 6 to 12 ribs and light yellow or reddish thorns that turn gray or black. The 3 to 7 central spines are 5 to 10 millimeters long and can curve inwards, while the 11 to 13 radial spines are 5 to 7 millimeters long when spread out. The flowering part of the shoots is distinctive, with grayish to brownish hairs up to 2.2 centimetres (0.87 in) long and thorns up to 4.1 centimetres (1.6 in) long on the flowering areoles.

The flowers of Pilosocereus albisummus are silver-white to slightly purple, measuring up to 4.3 centimetres (1.7 in) long and 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) in diameter. Its spherical fruits are depressed, up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long, and open with a side slit, containing magenta-colored flesh.^[3]

• 
  fruits
• 
  Fruits with pulp
• 
  flower

Distribution

Pilosocereus albisummus is distributed in the west of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.^[4]

Taxonomy

The plant was first described in 1987 by Pierre Josef Braun and Eddie Esteves Pereira. The specific epithet albisummus means 'with white tips'. A nomenclature synonym is Pilosocereus pachycladus subsp. albisummus (P.J.Braun & Esteves) Guiggi (2020).