Xerophyte

Habit

Plants treelike, up to 8 m high, much branched and spreading, the ultimate branches slender, erect often with well-defined trunks. A 5 metres tall individual may be over 100 years old.

Trunk

Up to 60 cm in diameter or larger covered by a is very thin, relatively smooth bark and reddish-brown.

Roots

The root system is broad and near the surface to rapidly a absorb water from even the lightest rains.

Branches

Mostly vertical or sometimes ascending, slender, erect, green, shining whenyoung, not at all glaucous, 7-9 cm in diameter arising 30-60 above ground from a single trunk. Branches may branch again, and those yet again. The thick green skin on the branches carries out photosynthesis. Older basal pats of the branches often form a thick bark.

Cephalium

As Pilosocereus cacti age, they produce what is called a 'pseudocephalium', but in Pilosocereus nobilisSN|4687]]SN|4687]] the fertile portion is not well differentiated from normal vegetative parts. Flower-bearing areoles subapical and lateral, on one to three ribs, with long white hairs.

Flowers

Flower-buds obtuse or nearly truncate; flowers rose pink or purple-red fleshy 4 to 6 cm long; upper scales and outer perianth-segments broad, rounded at apex; inner perianth-segments purple; style exerted They extend horizontallv out from the branches and open at night, but last into the next day.

Blooming Season

Flowers are found year-round when rainfall is adequate .

Spines

Up to 3.5 cm. long, acicular, at first yellow, soon brown.

Ribs

8-10 vertical.

Fruits

Depressed globose, pulp white or red. Fruits are edible, juicy and sweet and contain many tiny black seeds. Fruits do not have spines. They are usually found year-round.

Areoles

About 1 cm apart, at first producing only a little wool and this appressed against the ribs, but wool in flowering areoles very dense but short, white.