Garambullo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garambullo |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myrtillocactus
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| Species: |
schenckii
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Myrtillocactus schenckii, also known as the garambullo or vichishovo, is a cool type of cacti. It grows naturally in Oaxaca and Puebla, which are states in Mexico. This cactus belongs to a group called Myrtillocactus and is part of the huge Cactaceae family, which includes all cacti!
What Does the Garambullo Cactus Look Like?
This cactus is like a tall, strong tree, growing up to 2 to 7 meters (about 6 to 23 feet) high! It has a short main trunk. Its branches spread out like a "chandelier" and are about 10 cm (4 inches) wide. They branch out a lot near the bottom of the trunk.
The stems are 6 to 12 cm (2.4 to 4.7 inches) thick. They have 6 to 8 ridges, called ribs, and are a pretty bluish-green color.
The cactus has two kinds of spines. The radial spines are short, from 0.5 to 1.2 cm (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. They are straight, stiff, and can be black or grayish. The central spine might be there or sometimes not. If it's there, it's longer, from 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2 inches) long. It's also straight and can be grayish or black.
The flowers grow from the sides of the stems. They are about 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) wide and 3 cm (1.2 inches) long. Their colors range from yellowish-green to yellowish-white.
After the flowers, the cactus grows fruits. These fruits are red and shaped like small balls or ovals. They are 8 to 15 mm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) across. Sometimes they have a few weak spines. Inside, the fruit has juicy red or brown flesh. The seeds are small, black, and look a bit wrinkled. They are about 1.1 to 1.5 mm long.
Where Does the Garambullo Cactus Grow?
This cactus is found in a few places. It grows in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Puebla. You can also find it in Guatemala, a country south of Mexico.
The garambullo cactus likes to live in dry, bushy areas called xeric scrublands. It also grows in places where these dry areas meet forests that lose their leaves in certain seasons, called low deciduous forests.
This cactus is common in places with dry and partially dry weather. It often grows in soils that have gypsum or limestone, which can sometimes have a lot of salt. A good example is the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley.
It grows at different heights, from 1,300 to 2,000 meters (about 4,265 to 6,560 feet) above sea level. The areas where it lives usually have a dry, warm climate. They have a clear wet season in the summer. During this time, the average rainfall is about 380 to 450 mm (15 to 18 inches) per year. The average temperature all year round is about 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
See also
In Spanish: Garambullo blanco para niños
