Treelike Cactus w/white flowers = Myrtillocactus geometrizan

[Barefoot_Ted]

Howdy Folks

Here's one that is hard for me to identify. If I could find photos of the flowers, it would be easy.

First a close up of some of the flowers and buds:



These flowers are about an inch across and have a faint scented powdered detergent-like smell.

From the next photo below, you can see that the flower buds go from the top to the bottom of each stalk.



View from the top looking down:



Any ideas?

Best, Barefoot Ted

PS. My neighbor has one of these that is 8 feet tall!

[cactusbutt]

Hi Ted
I will take a stab at it
it could be Myrtillocactus Geometrizans
but im only 90% sure of that
keep on sending the pics they are great

Bob

[Barefoot_Ted]

Howdy Bob aka. cactusbutt

You got it! Thanks!

With that name, I was able to verify your findings with the photos and websites below.

From Cactiguide.com





From http://www.Desert-Tropicals.com:



Websites include:

http://www.DesertTropicals.com

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/ ... _geom.html

Planetacactus.com (Spanish)
http://www.planetacactus.com/myrti_geometrizans.html

From Cactiguide.com:

Myrtillocactus geometrizans

Common Name(s): Garambullo, Bilberry Cactus, Blue Flame, Whortleberry Cactus
Synonym(s): Cereus geometrizans, Cereus pugioniferus, Myrtillocactus pugionifer, Myrtillocactus grandiareolatus

From Desert-Tropicals.com:

Blue Candle, Whortleberry Cactus
Scientific Name: Myrtillocactus geometrizans (Mart.) Console
Synonym: Cereus pugioniferus, Cereus geometrizans, Myrtillocactus grandiareolatus, Myrtillocactus geometrizans var. pugionifera, Myrtillocactus pugionifer
Family: Cactaceae

This is fun!!!

Best, Barefoot Ted

[cactusbutt]

good deal glad i could help

[Barefoot_Ted]

Happy to report that it is also a fruit producing cacti!

I hope to be munching on some berries soon.

The fruits, small blue-black berries. 1-2 cms. wide, are edible both fresh or dried like grapes and are known by the natives as “ garambullos”

Best, Barefoot Ted

[daiv]

I can personally attest to the tastieness of the fruit. It's similar to Gooseberries without the prickles.