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Neowerdermannia vorwerkii, also known as achakana (Aymara and Quechua), is a species of cactus from high altitudes in Bolivia and northern Argentina.
Neowerdermannia vorwerkii is widespread in Bolivia and northern Argentina at altitudes of 3000 to 4000 meters. It grows buried in rocky soils in high mountain grasslands.
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 properties, and also as part of the traditional dish ají de achakana, characteristic of the All Saints Festival in Bolivia. The cactus and its complete root are sold cooked and with the thorns removed for consumption in the city of Oruro.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Neowerdermannia vorwerkii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
