Candleholder cactus (Browningia candelaris)

Candleholder cactus, a reference photo — Photo: Alberto Alerigi from Brazil · CC BY 2.0 (licence)

Browningia candelaris is a species of cactus from northern Chile and southern Peru. It has a distinctive growth habit, with a straight spiny trunk topped by more-or-less spineless thinner branches. In some places, the long-term survival of local populations may be threatened by grazing, which destroys seedlings.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it poisonous?

We have no record of Candleholder cactus being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Trichocereus atacamensis
Eulychnia iquiquensis
Pachypodium namaquanum

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Browningia
Species: Browningia candelaris

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