Tavaresia

It is an absolutely particular genus, sometimes with an aspect associated with a Cactacea. It is equipped with ribbed or tuberculated stems, but always strongly spiny; it grows in groups of several elongated and thin bodies, like some sort of wild ornamental bush. What mainly distinguishes Tavaresia from cacti is undoubtedly the wonderful flower: rather large in size, it takes on an extravagant calyx shape that is tinged with yellow tones enriched by reddish maculatures. Altogether they form a fascinating almost leopard-like plot, so peculiar as to give the entire genus the common name of "Devil’s trumpets". A curiosity: Tavaresia in the native places was not considered only a beautiful ornamental exemplar, but the inside of its stems was considered even useful as an unguent to be provided to relieve muscular pains!