Myrtillocactus schenckii, also known as garambullo or vichishovo, is a species of cacti native to Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. Placed in the genus Myrtillocactus, it is a member of the large and diverse family Cactaceae.[1][2]
Arborescent, erect cactus, up to 2-7 m tall. Short main stem, with branches up to 10 cm wide, shaped like a "chandelier", much branched near the base of the trunk, stems 6-12 cm in diameter, with 6-8 ribs, bluish-green. Radial spines, whose length is from 0.5 to 1.2 cm and from 0.5 to 0.8 mm wide, ending in a point at the top, straight, rigid, black and greyish. Central spine between 1 and sometimes absent, between 1 to 5 cm long and 0.8 to 1 mm wide, greyish or black in color and straight. Flowers, axillary, to 3.5 cm wide and 3 cm broad, yellowish-green to yellowish-white. Fruits, red, globose or ellipsiodal, 8-15 mm in diameter, sometimes with a few weak spines.[3] Juicy red or brown pulp. Asymmetric, oval seed 1.1 to 1.5 mm long by 8 to 1.2 mm wide, black in color and wrinkled in appearance.[4]
This species has a distribution restricted to the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Puebla.[5] Outside of Mexico, it has been registered in Guatemala. This species is characteristic of the xeric scrublands and transition areas with low deciduous forest. This species is characteristic of arid and semi-arid climate, they are generally found in gypsum and limestone soils, often with high salt content, as is the case in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley.[6] It is distributed in an altitudinal range of 1,300 to 2,000 m.[5][7] The places where the species is distributed, present a dry, arid, semi-warm climate, with a marked wet season in the summer, where the average annual rainfall is between 380 and 450 mm and its average temperature throughout the year is of 21.2 °C.
Myrtillocactus schenckii, also known as garambullo or vichishovo, is a species of cacti native to Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. Placed in the genus Myrtillocactus, it is a member of the large and diverse family Cactaceae.
