Chupas sangre

Description

Maihuenia patagonica, commonly known locally as chupas sangre or siempre verde, is a succulent cactus shrub native to Chile and Argentina. Maihuenia patagonica is remarkably tolerant to moisture and cold temperatures. Maihuenia patagonica forms dense cushions about 30 cm (12 in) tall and several meters wide with densely-packed spines. It has a single, 40 cm (16 in) long taproot. It blooms white to violet flowers. Maihuenia is a genus of cactus (family Cactaceae) and the sole genus of the subfamily Maihuenioideae, which is the smallest subfamily of the Cactaceae. The genus comprises two cushion-forming, mucilaginous species. They are found at high elevation habitats of Andean Argentina and Chile. Its name is the Latinized version of maihuén, a local Chilean name for these cacti.