Martorell C., Vega E., Ezcurra E., Morphological consequences of the trade-off between growth and reproduction in a columnar cactus (Lophocereus schottii), Plant Ecology, 2006, 183:125-131, doi: 10.1007/s11258-005-9011-5
Analyses 317 plants from Llanos de Magdalena in Baja California Sur. Plant size, the proportion of stems bearing pseudocephalia and flower and fruit counts were compared near the end of the season. Intermediate reproductive coverage was associated with the greatest current production of reproductive structures. Reduced photosynthesis through shading is an interpretation of this pattern.