Common names: "gravata", "macambira " or " macambira-de-flecha".
The most peculiar characteristic of Encholirium erectiflorum is the erect position of the flowers that, with the twist of the pedicels, are all turned upward (Fig. 60 - B; 61 - B). In the genus Encholirium this character was observed exclusively in this species.
Another peculiarity of E. erectiflorum is the inflorescence, which always has many branches, constituting a double heterostichous raceme (Fig. 60 - B; 61 - A). This characteristic is shared, within the genus, just with E. horridum. In spite of this common character, we can distinguish these two species easily for the presence of leaves reflexed with aculeate-serrulate margins, racemes partially pendulous, floral bracts oval and seeds long-caudate in E. horridum and leaves erect-patent with just aculeate margins, racemes partially patent, floral bracts lanceolate and seeds with falciform wings in E. erectiflorum.
Encholirium erectiflorum is recorded up to the moment in the states of Piauí and Ceara (Fig. 25). It almost always occurs in the rocky Flora in the domains of the caatinga or the transition of this to the cerrado.
E. erectiflorum, together with E. spectabile occur more to the north for the genus. E. erectiflorum occurs directly on rock (Fig. 61 - A). As well as many other species of the genus, this taxon forms large populations, but in very restricted areas. —SeeForzza 2001
