Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei

Natural range and habitat of Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei

Xiquexique gounellei is native to north-eastern and eastern Brazil. This subspecies is characteristic of the Caatinga and grows in sparse semiarid vegetation on rocky and stony ground.

Its native landscape has long dry periods, with rain arriving in irregular bursts. The succulent stems store water through the dry periods and take up water again after rain.

Care for Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei

• Light: Give very strong light and direct sun, introduced gradually after transport.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures around 20–32 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 10 °C. Keep container plants frost-free.
• Humidity: Aim for 40–50% humidity.
• Watering: This Caatinga cactus stores water in its stems. During active growth, water thoroughly and let the mineral-rich cactus mix dry completely before watering again. When growth and light are reduced, water sparingly, still waiting for the mix to dry completely.
• Potting mix and stability: Use a coarse, fast-draining cactus mix. A heavy, stable pot helps keep the plant upright as it gains height and branches.
• Feeding rate: Use a light feed while the plant is actively growing.
• Repotting: Increase pot size modestly when the root system has filled the current container. Inspect slower drainage and replace deteriorated mix as needed. Stabilise an unsteady plant in a heavy pot that fits the root ball.
• Propagation: Grow from seed or root a stem cutting after the cut surface has dried and formed a callus.

Common problems with Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei

• The stem becomes deeply wrinkled during active growth: The plant may have remained dry too long or damaged roots may be limiting water uptake. Inspect the roots before watering more often.
• New columnar growth becomes thin: Light is too low. Increase direct light gradually.
• The stem base turns soft or dark: Rot is likely. Cut away affected tissue back to firm healthy growth with a clean tool, discard the rot and let clean surfaces dry before re-rooting.
• Cottony patches or small fixed brown bumps appear around the spines: Mealybugs or scale may be present. Isolate the cactus and use a product labelled for the identified pest and indoor ornamental plants, following the label interval.

Xiquexique gounellei subsp. gounellei has sharp parts

• Keep this plant away from children and pets because its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear.
• Sharp spines can puncture the mouth, eyes, skin or paws.
• Handle it carefully. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after a serious injury, especially to the eye.

How did Xiquexique gounellei get its name?

Xiquexique adopts a Brazilian Portuguese vernacular name used for these cacti. Gounellei honours French entomologist and collector Pierre-Émile Gounelle.

Pâmela Lavor, Alice Calvente, and Leonardo M. Versieux established the genus Xiquexique in 2020 in PlantNow, volume 1, issue 2, page 63.

Karl Moritz Schumann first described it as Pilocereus gounellei in 1897 in Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, page 188; Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber had proposed that name. Pâmela Lavor and Alice Calvente later placed it in Xiquexique as Xiquexique gounellei in 2020 in PlantNow, volume 1, issue 2, page 63.