About Quiabentia verticillata (Vaupel) Borg
Quiabentia verticillata (Vaupel) Borg is an erect woody succulent that grows in a tree-like or shrub-like form, reaching heights between 2 and 15 meters (7 to 49 feet). Its primary leaves are approximately 5 centimeters (2 inches) long and up to 2 centimeters (1 inch) wide, ranging in shape from oval to lanceolate. Like many cacti, this species has leaves that are specialized into spines. These spines, which grow up to 7 centimeters (3 inches) long, develop from leaf stipules and protect the plant from herbivore browsing. It also produces a second type of thick, fleshy leaf with a somewhat angular cross-section. Both these fleshy leaves and the plant’s stems store water. Its flowers are bright red and measure 1.5 centimeters long. This species is native to neotropical forests in the Gran Chaco region, which covers eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and parts of Brazil. It grows in dry sandy soils, and is most commonly found at field edges, in wastelands, along roadsides, and grows opportunistically in non-irrigated vineyards and orchards. Like most cacti, Quiabentia verticillata is a xerophyte that can grow in areas with very little precipitation. It has an extensive, shallow lateral root system.
