About Corryocactus erectus (Backeb.) F.Ritter
Corryocactus erectus grows from semi-prostrate to upright forms, is only lightly branched, and reaches a maximum height of 1 meter. Its slender, cylindrical shoots grow up to 3 centimeters in diameter. This cactus has five to nine narrow, not very prominent ribs. It bears eight to 18 bright, unequally long thorns that radiate in all directions. The thorns have darker bases and cannot be clearly differentiated into central and peripheral types, and they reach up to 1 centimeter in length. The plant's light red to vermilion flowers measure 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, and its bright red fruits grow up to 2 centimeters in diameter. Corryocactus erectus is native to Cusco, Peru, where it grows primarily in desert or dry scrub biomes on cliffs at elevations between 3000 and 3500 meters.
