Rauhocereus is a Monotypic taxon genus of cactus (family Cactaceae). Its only species is Rauhocereus riosaniensis,
Description
The mostly shrubby
Rauhocereus riosaniensis, usually branching from the ground, often forms thickets up to 4 meters high. The upright, columnar shoots are bluish-green and have a diameter of . The 5 to 6 ribs are broken up into many warts. 2 to 8 strong spines, up to long, emerge from the woolly
areoles. The lower ones are initially reddish, the upper ones yellowish. Later all become greyish-white.
The bell-shaped flowers appear near the shoot tip. They open at night, are long and have a diameter of up to . The flower cup and the flower tube are covered with small scales and curly brown hairs.
The red, fleshy fruits are ovoid with a persistent flower rest. They contain small, ovoid, shiny black seeds.
Taxonomy
The genus and its only species were first described in 1957 by Curt Backeberg.
[ , Plants of the World Online accepted two subspecies:][
]
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Rauhocereus riosaniensis subsp. jaenensis (Rauh) Ostolaza
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Rauhocereus riosaniensis subsp. riosaniensis
Hybrids
× Raustoa
A hybrid of Rauhocereus riosaniensis subsp. Jaenensis and Espostoa superba is found in Jaén, Peru.
Distribution
Rauhocereus riosaniensis is found in northern Peru in the Amazonas and Cajamarca regions at altitudes of 500 to 1000 meters.
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