''Neowerdermannia vorwerkii'', also known as ''achakana'' (
Aymara
Aymara may refer to:
Languages and people
* Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language
** Aymara language, the main language within that family
** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...
and
Quechua
Quechua may refer to:
*Quechua people, several Indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru
*Quechuan languages, an Indigenous South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language ...
),
[ is a species of ]cactus
A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...
from high altitudes in Bolivia
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...
and northern Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
.
Description
''Neowerdermannia vorwerkii'' grows with depressed spherical, dark grey-green shoots 6 to 10 centimeters in diameter. The 16 or more ribs are divided into conspicuous, triangular protuberances between which the areoles are sunken. The 1 to 3 brownish to greyish central spines are often hooked and up to 2 centimeters long. The up to 10 curved and brownish radial spines have a length of up to 1.7 centimeters.
The white or light to bright purple-pink flowers are 1.8 to 2 centimeters long and have the same diameter. The spherical fruits are initially green, then reddish and are up to 5 millimeters in size.
Distribution
''Neowerdermannia vorwerkii'' is widespread in Bolivia
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...
and northern Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
at altitudes of 3000 to 4000 meters. It grows buried in rocky soils in high mountain grasslands.
Taxonomy
The first description was made in 1930 by Alberto Vojtěch Frič
Alberto Vojtěch Frič (, 8 September 1882 Prague – 4 December 1944 Prague) was a famous Czech botanist, ethnographer, writer and explorer. He undertook 8 voyages to America, discovered, described and catalogued many species of cactus
...
. Nomenclature synonyms are ''Gymnocalycium vorwerkii'' (Frič) Hutchison (1959), ''Weingartia vorwerkii'' (Frič) Backeb. (1963), ''Sulcorebutia vorwerkii'' (Backeb.) F.H.Brandt (1976) and ''Coryphantha vorwerkii'' (Frič) Halda & Malina (2005).
Use
In the cities of Oruro and Potosí in Bolivia, this cactus known as achakana is part of the population's diet, being consumed for its medicinal properties24 and also as part of the traditional dish Ají de achakana, characteristic of the All Saints Festival in Bolivia. Potosí. The cactus and its complete root are sold cooked and with the thorns removed for consumption in the city of Oruro.
In Jujuy, Argentina, this cactus is consumed as a potato substitute. In particular, it is used to prepare special dishes for the celebration of certain festivities.
References
External links
*
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q1977659
Cacti of South America
Flora of Argentina
Flora of Bolivia
Plants described in 1930