Have you ever heard of the Brazilian cactus? Native to environments such as the caatinga, the plant can reach several meters in height and depends mainly on abundant sunlight to beautify gardens.
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In the new edition of the É da Vida section, environmentalist Francisco Amarilla shows a beautiful specimen of cactus on Alameda Rondônia, in the central area of Foz do Iguaçu.
The alternation between green and yellow arouses the curiosity of those who stop to admire the species. “Why does it have this name? Because of the colors of the Brazilian flag, green and yellow,” confirms the environmentalist.
In other regions of Brazil, the Brazilian cactus is also called mandacaru, derived from indigenous words madaka'ru ou iamanaka'ru. According to the etymology, the terms refer to the plant's characteristic thorns.
For those interested in growing the green and yellow cactus, Amarilla has a tip. “When planting, always plant it out of the shade of a tree and away from the house. It [the plant] will grow a lot,” she advises.
According to botanists, the different types of cactus present in Brazil are part of the family Cactaceae, with almost two thousand catalogued species. For many people, growing them in gardens has the advantage of not requiring constant care, as well as a beautiful visual effect.
Foz do Iguaçu once had a themed space dedicated to this type of plant, the Recanto dos Cactos, located in Jardim Iguaçu. Currently, the place is deactivated (click here to remember).
The É da Vida segment is a production of H2FOZ, with the support of the Bird Park. Presentation: Francisco Amarilla. Images and editing: Marcos Labanca. Distribution on digital platforms: Claudio Siqueira.
