Cabega (Espostoopsis dybowskii)
Description
Espostoopsis dybowskii is the only species of the monotypic genus Espostoopsis in the cactus family(Cactaceae). The botanical name of the genus derives from the Greek noun "ὅψις" (opsis) for appearance and refers to the similarity with the genus Espostoa . The epithet of the species honors the botanist and agronomist Jean Dybowski (1856-1928). The shrubby, usually branching from the ground Espostoopsis dybowskii reaches stature heights of 2 to 4 meters. Their cylindrical, up to 8 centimeters in diameter reaching trunks are completely covered by white hair . The 20 to 28 ribs are low. The areoles are covered with dull, yellowish wool and abundant white hair. The 2 to 3, protruding, needle-like middle spines are yellow and 2 to 3 inches long. The numerous, short and thin spines are hidden in the hair of the areoles. The Cephalium arises laterally and has a length of up to 60 centimeters. The up to 4 centimeters long flowers open at night. They are white and short tubular to bell-shaped. The flower cup is bare, the flower tube is occupied by very small scales. The almost bare, pale pink fruits with a perennial, blackening remnant of flowers, are ovate-shaped and have a diameter of up to 2.5 centimeters. They contain a white flesh and do not break. The black, roughened-warty seeds are oval to pear-shaped.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Caryophyllales
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Family: Cactaceae
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Genus: Espostoopsis
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