Leucostele nigripilis

Botanical Description

Leucostele nigripilis is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, columnar cactus. The plant is shrubby, branching basally, and sometimes prostrate, though at other times erect. It forms dense thickets and can grow up to 1metre tall. The stems are cylindrical, up to 8cm in diameter[ 1987 Title The Cactus Family Publication Author Anderson E.F. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2001 ISBN 0-88192-498-9 Description An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation.. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. Leucostele nigripilis occurs in only one location, and the whole area is threatened by tourism development which is causing declines in the quality of the habitat and number of mature individuals. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. (As Echinopsis coquimbana (Molina) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley)