Browningia hernandezii

Botanical Description

Browningia hernandezii is a spiny, evergreen, succulent shrubby, occasionally tree-like plant growing around 2 - 5 metres tall, occasionally to 7 metres. It branches freely from near the base, with stems up to 2.5 metres long and 8 - 12cm in diameter[ 1992 Title Nueva Especie Colombiana de Browningia (Cactaceae, Cactoideae, Browningieae) Potencialmente Promisoria para el País Publication Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc.: Vol XXX, No 114 -March 2006 Author Fernández-Alonso J.L. Publisher Year 2006 ISBN Description ] The edible fruit is a popular wild food and is commonly harvested from the wild for local use. It has been suggested as a potential food crop for the high Andes region[ 1992 Title Nueva Especie Colombiana de Browningia (Cactaceae, Cactoideae, Browningieae) Potencialmente Promisoria para el País Publication Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc.: Vol XXX, No 114 -March 2006 Author Fernández-Alonso J.L. Publisher Year 2006 ISBN Description ]. Browningia hernandezii has a restricted geographic distribution (presence area less than 200 km2), it is known from only three locations and its habitat is being degraded by human activities (deforestation for the expansion of the agricultural frontier, mining and infrastructure construction). 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. ].