Echinopsis atacamensis
Echinopsis atacamensis (cardón) is a species of cactus from Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. The wood of this species can be used in building and in making furniture. Description. "Echinopsis atacamensis" has a tall columnar habit, sometimes forming branches and becoming treelike. It grows to about high, with stems to across. The stems have 20-30 ribs and areoles with 50-100 maroon coloured spines, the longest up to long. The rose-white flowers are long, borne on the sides of the stems. The dark green fruits are densely covered with hairs, up to long; they are edible. Systematics . "Echinopsis atacamensis" was first described by Rodolfo Philippi as "Cereus atacamensis" in 1860. It was placed in a number of genera, including "Trichocereus" and "Helianthocereus", before being moved to "Echinopsis" by Helmo Friedrich and Gordon Rowley in 1974. There are two recognized subspecies. Subspecies "pasacana" is often branched, and occurs in Argentina and Bolivia. Subspecies "atacamensis" is usually unbranched, less tall (up to rather than ), and is found in Chile.