Garambullo

Description

Myrtillocactus schenckii is a plant species in the genus Myrtillocactus from the cactus family (Cactaceae). Common Spanish names are "Garambullo" and "Vichishovo". Myrtillocactus schenckii grows with branched shoots, reaches heights of 4 to 5 meters and forms a short trunk. The dark green, ascending shoots have a diameter of up to 10 centimetres. There are 7 to 8 broad ribs. The single, black central spine is up to 5 centimeters long. The 6 to 8 radial spines are blackish, curved and 5 to 12 millimeters long. The whitish flowers have a diameter of up to 4 centimeters. The spherical, red fruits reach a diameter of up to 1.5 centimeters and are covered with small thorns.Myrtillocactus schenckii is distributed in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca. The first description as Cereus schenckii was published in 1909 by Joseph Anton Purpus. Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed them in the genus Myrtillocactus in the same year.