Cleistocactus pungens is a species of columnar cactus in the genus Cleistocactus, endemic to Peru.
Cleistocactus pungens grows as a shrub with spreading shoots and reaches heights of 1 to 1.5 meters with diameters of 3 to 4 centimeters. There are about 13 wavy ribs. The areoles on it, which are initially brown and later gray, are close together. The straight, needle-like, stiff, protruding thorns are initially dark reddish brown and later gray. The usually 2 to 5 central spines are 2 to 5 centimeters long, the 8 to 12 marginal spines are 2 to 12 millimeters long.
The horizontally protruding, purple-colored flowers are slightly curved downwards above the pericarpel. They are up to 7.5 centimeters long and have a diameter of 5 millimeters. The spherical, red fruits reach a diameter of up to 2 centimeters.[1]
Cleistocactus pungens is widespread in the Peruvian regions of Ayacucho and Apurímac at altitudes of 1500 to 2000 meters.
The first description was made in 1964 by Friedrich Ritter.[2] The specific epithet pungens comes from Latin, means 'stinging' and refers to the thorns of the species.