Jasminocereus thouarsii
Its distinctive silhouette recalls the great candelabras of colonial interiors. It has a woody, thick, cylindrical central trunk from which multiple vertical, parallel branches curve upward. It reaches heights of 5 to 7 meters.
When the cactus dies and its fleshy tissue decomposes, it reveals a remarkable cylindrical ‘skeleton’ of hollow, latticed wood of exceptional structural strength.
It is a pioneer species: its roots are capable of breaking through hard volcanic rock, facilitating substrate decomposition and preparing the ground for smaller plants to establish.
By storing large quantities of water in its columnar tissues, it functions as a critical water reserve for terrestrial and aerial fauna during prolonged dry seasons.
CACTUS OPUNTIA DE GALÁPAGOS — Galápagos Opuntia Cactus
