Espostoa mirabilis

Description

Espostoa mirabilis is a plant species in the genus Espostoa from the cactus family (Cactaceae). The specific epithet mirabilis means 'admirable', 'amazing', 'enchanting' and refers to the appearance of the species. Espostoa mirabilis grows shrubby to tree-like and reaches heights of 2 to 4 meters. The cylindrical, densely thorned shoots measure up to 9 centimeters in diameter and are covered with dense white wool at the shoot tip. There are 16 to 25 notched ribs on which areoles that are closely spaced. The usually single, gray central spine, which can also be absent, has a fox-red tip and is 2 to 5 centimeters (rarely up to 7 centimeters) long. Occasionally it is much shorter and resembles the radial spines. The about 40 finely needled, fox-red radial spines have a length of 4 to 7 millimeters. The up to 2 meter long cephaliumis golden brown to reddish brown. The white flowers are up to 5.5 centimeters long. The blood-red fruits, slightly tapering towards their base, are 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter. Espostoa mirabilis is common in Peru in the Amazonas, Cajamarca and La Libertad regions in the gorge of the Río Marañón at altitudes of 1000 to 1600 meters. The first description was in 1964 by Friedrich Ritter. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the species is listed as " Least Concern (LC) ". H. listed as not endangered.