Curt Backeberg
1959 Die Cactaceae pp. 1108-1109 (Photo:
Figure 1061)
(translated from the German original)
Trichocereus
puquiensis Rauh & Backeberg
Up to 4 meters tall.
Branches are swollen and blue
green; up to 15 cm diameter.
8-10 ribs, somewhat swollen
around the areoles but lacking a transverse furrow over it.
Areoles around 1 cm diameter.
Spines at the beginning are
chestnut brown;
There are up to 10 radial
spines; 1-2 cm long.
Usually 2 central spines; 1 is more erect and up to 10 cm long; the other is directed downwards and up to 5-8 cm long.
Flower is white.
Tube is up to 10 cm long,
opening to 2.5 cm diameter, and darkly hairy.
The undersides of the Sepals are
reddish-green, and the upper surface is green.
Petals, filaments and lobes as well
as the style are green;
Anthers are yellow.
From southern Peru (Puquio
Valley: 3300 m)
Differs from Trichocereus cuzcoensis due to the spines not being thickened at the base, as well as having more ribs and longer central spines.