“Armed Wax candle” referring to the many long spines some species in the genus have.
A genus of branched shrubs or treelike plants reaching up to 12 m high. Stems columnar, constricted, segmented with 3-16 strongly developed ribs. Spines sturdy, but sometimes absent.
ripe, with a white pulp. Seeds large, rather irregular, ovoid (egg-shaped) to reniform (kidney-shaped), warty, black.
sometimes presenting a surrounding shrubby vegetation, from sea level up to 3300 m in altitude.
Colombia (Dagua), Ecuador (Azuay, Chimborazo, Catamayo, Guayaquil, Huigra, Isla Puna, Loja, Rio Chanchán), Peru (Amazonas, Ancash, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Huancavelica, lea, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Matucana, Moquegua, Piura, Tumbes, also along the banks of Rio Majes, Rio Marañon and Rio Nazca).