• ETYMOLOGY
“Closed head cactus”, defining the almost closed, tubular flowers, and the pseudocephalium, the two main features of this genus. • DESCRIPTION
Monospecific genus of columnar shrubby plants, branching from the base, low ribs with a V-shaped groove; spines finely setose .
Flowers diurnal, self sterile, tubular, red, appearing in a lateral pseudocephalium with long bristles, probably pollinated by hummingbirds. Fruits reddish. Seeds shiny, black. • HABITAT
The monotypic genus Cephalocleistocactus grows endemically in a limited area in Bolivia at about 2000 m in altitude. • DISTRIBUTION
Bolivia (La Paz).
Currently only one probable species:
– Cephalocleistocactus chrysocephalus* F.Ritter 1959
• ETYMOLOGY
“Head candle” referring to the pseudocephalium near top of the stems in this genus, resembling a head. • DESCRIPTION
A genus of treelike, columnar erect plants, solitary or sparsely branched, branching usually from the base, with the areoles close each other. Many radial spines, setose, or with long hair which sometimes cover the entire epidermis.
Flowers nocturnal, self-sterile, tubular to bell-shaped, produced in a pseudocephalium, white-pinkish to pink tinged yellow, pollinated by bats (Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris curasoae, L. nivalis, L. yerbabuenae). Fruits ovoid with small scales and wool. Seeds pyriform (pear-shaped), shiny, black. • HABITAT
The genus Cephalocereus grows endemically in Mexico, in colonies which typically dominate the landscape, in ravines, sometimes growing on steep slopes, on rocky islets, on various types of soils, depending on species, composed of limestone (C. columna-trajani) or quartz (C. aplclcephalium), sandstone, mica or even andesite (C. totolapensis) from about 1000 m up to 1850 m in altitude, with other cacti and succulents. Cephalocereus senilis is a very common garden plant when young. • DISTRIBUTION
Mexico (Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz).
Currently 5 recognised species:
– Cephalocereus apicicephalium* e.y.Dawson 1948
– Cephalocereus columna-trajani* (Karw. ex Pfeiffer) K.Schum. 1894
– Cephalocereus nizandensis (Bravo & Macdoug.) F.Buxb. 1965
– Cephalocereus senilis* (Haw.) pfeiff. 1838
– Cephalocereus totolapensls* (Bravo & Macdoug.) Buxb. 1965 (although the latter is declared invalid because, according to Hunt, no type was designated).
• ETYMOLOGY
Genus honouring the Argentine botanist Alberto Castellanos (1896-1968). See portrait above, public domain. • DESCRIPTION
Monospecific genus of treelike plants, branching from the base, with constricted cylindrical stems. Vegetative shoots have 9 ribs, grey areoles, brown spines; long gray to brown bristles appear along the flowering stems.
Flowers nocturnal, self-sterile, bell-shaped, scaly and felted, purple red, pollinated by bats (Glossophaga soricina). Fruits globose, greenish yellow with a dark yellow pulp, which it is said by Backeberg (1976) to be exceptionally poisonous, keeping the remains of dried perianth. Seeds reddish brown to black, rough. Dispersal takes place by bats (.Sturnira lilium). • HABITAT
The monotypic genus Castellanosia lives throughout the Rio Caine, to the southwestern Bolivian Chaco, on more or less inclined slopes, in dry valleys covered with woodlands dominated by trees like Gochnatia palosanto as well as Neoraimondia herzogiana, from 530 m up to 2330 m in altitude, together with many other cacti (Blossfeldialiliputana, Cereus hankeanus, Cleistocactus candelilla, Gymnocalyclum pflanzli, Harrisia tetracantha, Parodia columnaris, Pereskia diaz-romeroana, P. sacharosa, Pfeiffera ianthotele, Weingartia neocumingii subsp. pulquinensis) and succulents, epiphytic or terrestrial Orchidaceae and Bromeliaceae (Deuterocohnia longipetala). The presence of lichens demonstrates a high humidity. • DISTRIBUTION
Bolivia (Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, Tarija), Paraguay (Alto Paraguay, Boqueron, Concepcion).
Currently only one recognised species:
– Castellanosia caineana* Cárdenas 1951
• ETYMOLOGY
A genus honouring the North American philanthropist of Scottish origin Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) whose foundation financed, among others, the works of Britton & Rose (see portrait above, public domain). • DESCRIPTION
Monospecific genus of giant massive and slow-growing plants, with thick, columnar, branched stems, with very close areoles.
Flowers open day and night, self sterile, appearing near the top of stems, funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, white, fragrant, scaly, mainly pollinated at night by bats (Antrozous pallidus, Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris curasoae, L. yerbabuenae), and during the day by turtledoves (Zenaida asiatica mearnsii, Z. macroura) and other birds (Auriparus flaviceps, Carpodacus mexicanas, Colaptes auratus, Icterus parisorum, Melanerpes uropygialis, minimoved Psaltriparus, Toxostoma curvirostre, etc.), also hummingbirds (Cynanthus latirostris, Calypte costae, Selasphorus rufus), as well as bees (Apis, Bombus, Megachile, Xylocopa) and Sphingideae (Hyles lineata). Fruits fleshy, juicy, with blood red pulp, dehiscent, splitting in three or four. Seeds rather small, ovate, shiny, dark brown to almost black. Dispersion of seeds provided by birds and ants. • HABITAT
The monotypic genus Carnegiea grows in the Sonoran desert in the United States and northern Mexico, on hillsides, in valleys, canyons, on rocky grounds, almost from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 2000 m. The rare spontaneous natural seedlings grows initially in the shade of shrubs (Simmondsia, Larrea etc.) or bushes (Ambrosia). They sometimes receive snow in winter, but such prolonged events may decimate part of the population if the frost and humidity persist. • DISTRIBUTION
Mexico (Sonora), USA (Arizona, California).
Currently only one recognised species:
– Carnegiea gigantea* (Engelm.) Britton & Rose 1908
• ETYMOLOGY
” Flower enveloped with a hood “, designating the main feature of the genus, whose flowers are very distinct in that they begin by looking like a new stem segment, and as they develop they emerge out of the end and remain partly covered by the floral tube. • DESCRIPTION
Monospecific genus of shrubby to treelike plants, strongly branched, with angular and segmented stems presenting notches, with well-defined areoles and with stiff, aciculate spines.
Flowers self sterile, at first tubular during the day, becoming bell-shaped at night, tearing the pericarp to get out, reddish or brownish, pollinated by bats. Fruits slightly angled, indehiscent, floral remains persistent, forming even if they have not been pollinated, but in this case, remaining sterile. Seeds ovate, coarsely tuberculate, black. • HABITAT
The monotypic genus Calymmanthium grows endemically in northeast Peru, between 950 m and 1800 m in altitude, in thickets, among shrubs, along rivers, on stony soils. • DISTRIBUTION
Peru (Amazonas, Cajamarca).
Currently only one recognised species:
– Calymmanthium substerile* F.Ritter 1968 (= C. subfertile)
