Author: cactusclassification

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MORANGAYA

http://cactiguide.com/graphics/e_pensilis_j_600.jpg
http://cactiguide.com/graphics/e_pensilis_j_600.jpg

Autor: Rowley

• ETYMOLOGY
Genus honouring Reid Moran (1916-2010), curator of the botanical garden of San Diego Natural History Museum (shown above) and Edward Gay (1915-1997), American collector.
• DESCRIPTION
Monotypic genus of pendulous plants, with very long cylindrical stems (up to 4 m) strongly branched, bearing aerial roots. Ribs rounded and tuberculate. Spines spreading, becoming numerous at the base (sometimes more than 70).
Flowers diurnal, self-sterile, opening early in the morning, tubular funnel-shaped, with woolly and bristly areoles, appearing near the tip of stems, orange to pale red, pollinated by hymenoptera and hummingbirds, as well as a small species of beetle (Nitidulidae) which according to Leon de la Luz (2005), would be the main pollinator. Fruits spiny, elongated, reddish with red pulp, or greenish to yellowish with creamy-white pulp, with an average of 200 or more seeds; floral remains persistent. Seeds matt, tuberculate, black. Dispersal ensured by birds (ornithochory) and lizards (saurochory).
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Morangaya grows endemically in a small area south of the peninsula of the Baja California in Mexico, in mountains, in forests of pines and oaks, slightly in the shade, on blocks of granitic rocks and cliffs, in crevices with organic matter, between 800 m and 2000 m in altitude, together with Bursera species. Currently, only two known copulations are separated by about forty kilometres, but are locally more abundant where the altitude is more devated and the rainfall is higher.
• DISTRIBUTION
Mexico (Baja California Sur).

Currently only one recognised species:
– Morangaya pensilis* (K.Brandegee) G.D.Rowley 1974

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)

 

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MONVILLEA

http://i40.tinypic.com/v4mip0.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/v4mip0.jpg

Autor: Britton & Rose

• ETYMOLOGY
Genus honouring Chevalier de Monville (Baron Hippolyte Boissel de Monville, 1794-1863), French botanist to whom we owe several descriptions of cacti. No portrait found.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of pendulous, prostrate to semi-erect or decumbent plants, forming strongly branched bushes, with slender and elongated stems, bearing very small areoles. Ribs in variable number, usually few (6-9), tuberculate, with short and aciculate spines.
Flowers nocturnal, still open in the morning, with elongated tube, not felty nor spiny, only tiny scales, appearing near the tip of stems, white or yellow, the outer tepals tinged with green or pink, pollinated by bats during the night and hymenoptera in the morning. Fruits egg-shaped, glabrous, like a big plum, fleshy, juicy and wine red, with a white pulp. Seeds small, dark brown to black, more or less smooth. Dispersal of seeds probably assured in some regions by the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and other mammals.
• HABITAT
The genus Monvillea has a wide geographic distribution, and grows in more or less dry tropical forest under trees and shrubs, from 40 up to 2030 m in altitude, usually together with bromeliads (Tillandsia) and other cacti.
• DISTRIBUTION
Argentina (Chaco, Formosa), Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais), Paraguay (Alto Paraguay, Amambay, Boqueron, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes).

Currently 6 species to debate + 2 subspecies:
– Monvillea cavendishii (Monv.) Britton & Rose 1920
– Monvillea estevesii (P.J.Braun) J.Lode 2013 (ex Cereus estevesii P.J.Braun 2004)
– Monvillea krapovickiana R.Kiesling 2010
– Monvillea phatnosperma (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose 1920
– Monvillea phatnosperma subsp. adelmarii (Rizzini & A. Mattos) J.Lode 2014
– Monvillea phatnosperma subsp. kroenleinii (N.P.Taylor) J.Lode 2013
– Monvillea saddiana Rizzini & A.Mattos 1985
– Monvillea spegazzinii* (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose 1920

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)

 

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MITROCEREUS

http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/2094_DSC_02820011_1.jpg
http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/2094_DSC_02820011_1.jpg

Autor: (Backeberg) Backeberg

• ETYMOLOGY
≪Cereus with a mitre≫, because the genus has an apical pseudocephalium resembling a mitre or bishop’s cap.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of erect, massive, columnar plants, reaching more than 12 m high, branched, with a massive trunk. Epidermis greyish-green, with well marked and deep ribs, with naked areoles, except the flower-bearing ones, which are woolly. Central spines 3, the lower sturdier; approximately 12 thinner radial spines. Pseudocephalium apical, strongly woolly on the reproductive stems. Flowers nocturnal, self-sterile, appearing in the apical woolly mass of the pseudocephalium, funnel-shaped, creamy white, with floral tube bearing imbricated scales and long bristles dark yellow, pollinated by bats (Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris curasoae, L. nivalis). Fruits globose, apically dehiscent, with a white pulp, covered with wool and with bristles. Seeds large, dark brown, shiny, dispersal mainly ornithophilous.
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Mitrocereus grows in a restricted area, but in abundance, in barrancas, on the slopes of limestone hills, between 1700 m and 2130 m in altitude, sympatric with Neobuxbaumia tetetzo, in deciduous tropical forests, where its size surpasses the rest of the vegetation. It also grows together with Coryphantha, Echinocactus, Ferocactus and Mammiilaria.
• DISTRIBUTION
Mexico (Puebla, also reported by Bravo in Oaxaca, and actually found south of the Valley of Tehuacan-Cuicatlan, in the northwest of this state).

Currently only one recognised species:
– Mitrocereus fulviceps* (Weber ex Schumann) Backeberg ex Bravo 1954

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)

 

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MIQUELIOPUNTIA

http://cactiguide.com/graphics/m_miquelii_d_600.jpg
http://cactiguide.com/graphics/m_miquelii_d_600.jpg

Autor: (Monville) F. Ritter

• ETYMOLOGY
Genus of Opuntia dedicated by Monville to Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel (1811-1871), director of the botanical garden of the University of Utrecht and Leiden herbarium in Holland between 1859 and 1871 (see portrait above, public domain).
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of shrubby erect plants forming clumps of several metres in diameter, with articulated cylindrical stems, branching at or near the apex, sturdy, glaucous. Tubercles well defined, prominent, elongated. Fleshy leaves with reddish tip, deciduous. Areoles having glochids and many long spines, sheath absent.
Fowers diurnal, appearing near the tip of stems, not opening completely, white, yellow, salmon pink to intense pink, pollinated by insects. Fruits globose to egg-shaped, whitish to pale green, fleshy, with aqueous pulp, indehiscent; areoles covered with spines. Seeds quite large (3,5-5mm, yellowish-white to ochre, flattened, discoid, with prominent margin; funicular enveloppe hard, slightly hairy.
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Miqueliopuntia grows in full sun, in dry, extremely barren areas, of the southern Atacama desert, on clastic sedimentary soils from 80 m up to approximately 1550 m in altitude. The periods of aridity are long,from 6 to 10 months with winter rainfall of 100-300 mm.
• DISTRIBUTION
Chile (Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo).

Currently only one recognised species:
– Miqueliopuntia miquelii* (Monv.) F.Ritter 1980

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)

 

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MILA

Mila caespitosaAutor: Britton & Rose

• ETYMOLOGY
Anagram of Lima, capital of Peru, also a department, where the genus was found for the first time.
• DESCRIPTION
Monotypic genus of small, extremely variable, caespitose, low growing plants, forming clumps from the base, with short stems, erect or prostrate, egg-shaped to cylindrical. Ribs low, areoles close-set, felted. Spines in number, size and colours very variable, aciculate.
Flowers diurnal, subapical, funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, more or less intense yellow, the outer tepals sometimes tinged with red, pollinated by bees. Fruits globose, fleshy, scaly and slightly woolly, greenish yellow to pale green tinged with red when ripe, floral remains persistent. Seeds roughly ovate, matt, warty, blackish brown.
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Mila grows endemically in Peru, in dry valleys or on hills often devoid of vegetation, on rocky, coarse sandy or gravely soils, often at the base of rocks, from 200 m up to about 3000 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
Peru (Ancash, lea, Lima).

Currently a single recognised species, + maybe two subspecies, indicated here:
– Mila caespitosa* Britton & Rose 1922
– Mila caespitosa subsp. nealeana* (Backeberg) Donald 1978
– Mila caespitosa subsp. pugionifera (Rauh & Backeberg) Hunt 2005

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)