Leucostele atacamensis
Leucostele atacamensis (cardón) is a species of cactus from Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. The wood of this species can be used in building and in making furniture. Description

Leucostele atacamensis has a tall columnar habit, sometimes forming branches in a candelabra shape and becoming treelike. It grows to about  high, with stems to  across. The stems have 20-30 ribs and areoles have a diameter of up to 2 centimeters and become larger with age with 50-100 maroon coloured spines, the longest up to  long. In younger plants, the yellowish to honey-colored thorns are strongly needle-like and up to 10 centimeters (rarely up to 15 centimeters) long. The two to four (rarely up to eight) central spines cannot always be clearly distinguished from the peripheral spines. The rose-white flowers are  long, open day and night, borne on the sides of the stems. The dark green fruits are densely covered with hairs, up to  long; they are edible. Distribution
Leucostele atacamensis is widespread in the northeast of Chile, the southwest of Bolivia and the north of Argentina at altitudes of 1700 to 3900 meters. Systematics
Leucostele atacamensis was first described by Rodolfo Philippi as Cereus atacamensis in 1860. It was placed in a number of genera, including Trichocereus and Helianthocereus, before being moved to Echinopsis by Helmo Friedrich and Gordon Rowley in 1974. There are two recognized subspecies. References

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atacamensis
Cacti of South America
Flora of Argentina
Flora of Bolivia
Flora of northern Chile
Atacama Desert
Near threatened flora of South America
Plants described in 1860