Myrtillocactus eichlamii

Myrtillocactus eichlamii is a species of Myrtillocactus found in Guatemala.

Description
Myrtillocactus eichlamii grows tree-shaped with upright, striking blue-green to deep green, glaucous shoots and forms a distinct trunk. It has 6 blunt ribs with large, gray areoles spaced up to 2 centimeters apart. The central spine can reach up to 7 centimeters long, while the approximately 5 marginal spines are shorter and swollen at their base.

The creamy white flowers are 4 centimeters long and 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters in diameter, with a very short flower tube. The spherical, purple to red fruits are edible and covered with a whitish wax.

Distribution
Myrtillocactus eichlamii is widespread in Guatemala.

Taxonom
The species was first described in 1920 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose. The specific epithet eichlamii honors the German cactus collector Friedrich Eichlam.