Armatocereus laetus explained

Armatocereus laetus is a species of Armatocereus from Peru.^[1]

Description

Armatocereus laetus grows columnar tree-like, branched above the ground and reaches growth heights of 4 to 6 meters. A short massive trunk is formed. The gray-green shoots are columnar and erect. Four to eight ribs are present. The six to twelve initially brown spines become whitish or grayish with age.

The white flowers are 7 to 8 centimeters long and up to 5 centimeters in diameter. The green fruits are heavily spined. ^[2]

Distribution

Armatocereus laetus is distributed in northern Peru and southern Ecuador.

Taxonomy

The first description as Cactus laetus was in 1923 by Karl Sigismund Kunth.^[3] Arthur William Hill placed the species in the genus Armatocereus in 1938. Other nomenclature synonyms include Cereus laetus (Kunth) DC. and Lemaireocereus laetus (Kunth) Britton & Rose (1919).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Armatocereus laetus in Tropicos.
2. Book: Anderson, Edward F. . Eggli . Urs . Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon . 2005 . 3-8001-4573-1 . de . 76-77.
3. Book: Bonpland, Aimé . Humboldt . Alexander von . Kunth . Karl Sigismund . Nova genera et species plantarum :quas in peregrinatione ad plagam aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt /descripserunt, partim adumbraverunt Amat. Bonpland et Alex. de Humboldt ; ex schedis autographis Amati Bonplandi in ordinem digessit Carol. Sigismund. Kunth ... . Ex officina Christophori Plantini . Antverpiae . 1815 . 10.5962/bhl.title.640 .