Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei is a subspecies of Xiquexique gounellei (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Lavor & Calvente. It grows mostly as a shrub and only rarely tree-shaped, branching from a stem and reaching growth heights of to 4 meters. The erect shoots become crooked or even horizontal with age. They are olive green, sometimes glaucous, and range in diameter. There are 8 to 15 ribs, which have transverse furrows. The opaque to translucent spines are golden to reddish or brown or gray. The flower buds are completely surrounded by long silky hairs.
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Genus etymology: Portuguese xique-xique (pronounced [sheek-sheek]), vernacular name of Pilosocereus gounellei = Xiquexique gounellei, “broadly known in Brazil and one of the most emblematic cacti of the Brazilian semi-arid Northeastern region”.
Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei
Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei is ca. 55 cm tall and comes in a ø 24 cm pot.