Quisco coquimbano
Trichocereus coquimbanus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is a shrubby plant. It usually forms branches near the base and can lie along the ground. It forms dense thickets and can be 1 m tall. The stem are cylinder shaped and 8 cm across. There are 12-13 ribs. The buds for the spines are large and round and yellowish. The spines are straight and stout. They are brown but turn grey with are age. There are 3-4 central spines up to 5 cm long and a ring of 8-12 spines around which are 1-2 cm long. The flowers can be at the tips or at the sides. They are bell shaped and open day and night. The flowers are 12 cm long and bell shaped. The fruit round and green. They are edible.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows along the coast of Chile.

Countries/locations it is found in

Chile, South America

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Copao

Synonyms

Cactus coquimbanus Molina; Cereus coquimbanus (Molina) K. Schumann; Echinopsis coquimbana Hoffman; Trichocereus serenanus F. Ritter;