Neoraimondia

7 species Cactaceae

Morphological Summary

Genus of giant columnar cacti endemic to Peru and extreme northern Chile. Characterized by branched columnar stems up to 8 m and, above all, by MULTI-SPINED AREOLES: each old areole produces successive new areoles, forming a very long spine cluster (up to 20–30 cm) that persists for years — a unique structure in Cactaceae. Small pink diurnal flowers. Named in honor of Antonio Raimondi (1826–1890), Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer who produced the first modern atlas of Peru. The prefix "Neo" (new) distinguishes this genus from the earlier homonym. Iconic element of the Peruvian coastal desert landscape.

Distribution Peru (La Libertad, Ancash, Lima, Ica, Arequipa: arid coastal and Andean slopes, 0–2500 m) and extreme northern Chile

Conservation CITES Appendix II. Stable populations in suitable habitat; locally threatened by agricultural expansion.

sort_by_alpha A–Z 7 Results

eco

ColumnarPeru Endemic