Xiquexique bohlei

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Xiquexique bohlei is a cactus species found in Bahia, Brazil. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

What it is
- A shrubby, columnar cactus that branches only at the base and grows up to about 1.8 meters tall.
- Shoots are upright to arching, bluish-green, up to 12 cm in diameter, and club-shaped with a thickened base.

Description
- 9 to 12 ribs with oval areoles that have hairs up to 3 cm long.
- Spines start reddish or light brown, later turning yellowish to gray-black. Usually one central spine up to 2.5 cm, with 30–40 radial spines up to 2 cm.
- A flowering section rises from the shoots, up to 40 cm long, with up to 7 ribs and white hairs up to 7 cm in the flowering areoles.

Flowers and fruit
- Flowers are slightly curved, funnel-shaped, white, with a pale green outer surface. They can be up to 5.5 cm long and 3.5 cm in diameter.
- Fruits are greenish to bluish-green, depressed spheres up to 3.5 cm long and 4 cm wide, with white pulp inside.

Habitat
- Common in northeastern Bahia, Brazil.

Taxonomy and name
- Binomial name: Xiquexique bohlei (Hofacker) N.P. Taylor.
- Synonyms include Caerulocereus bohlei (Hofacker) Guiggi and Pilosocereus bohlei Hofacker.
- First described in 2001 as Pilosocereus bohlei and moved to Xiquexique in 2023.
- The name bohlei honors Bernhard Bohle, a German cactus enthusiast and co-discoverer.