cactusclassification – Page 33 – THE LAST CACTUS CLASSIFICATION

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016

BROWNINGIA

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/83196740.jpg

Autor: Britton & Rose

• ETYMOLOGY
A genus honouring Webster E. Browning (1869-1942), director of the English Institute of Santiago, Chile (Portrait
unknown).
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of plants usually treelike and branched, with ribbed cylindrical stems, candelabra like or columnar, some
having the characteristics of a trunk densely covered with spines while the reproductive stems lack them.
Flowers nocturnal, remaining open in the morning, self sterile, tubular or funnel-shaped, with a floral tube slightly
bent back and covered with scales, white, creamy-white to orange red, pollinated by bats (Platalina genovensium)
and by hummingbirds (Rhodopis vesper). Fruits rather small, spherical to egg-shaped, more or less fleshy, dry when
ripe, having deciduous scales. Seeds variable, usually ovoid, sometimes wrinkled, shiny, brownish black, dispersed by bats (Platalina genovensium) and birds (Phyllotis darwinii).
• HABITAT
The genus Browningia grows in mountains, on hills, on often rocky areas with steep terrain, among shrubs in a
xerophytic vegetation, or in areas of extreme aridity, from 400 m up to 3000 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
Bolivia, N. Chile (Arica, Tarapacá), Colombia (Boyacá, disjunction), Ecuador (Cañar, Loja), Peru (Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, lea, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Moquegua, Pasco, Tacna).

Currently 9 recognised species + one subspecies:
– Browningia albiceps F.Ritter 1981
– Browningia altissima (F.Ritter) Buxb. 1965
– Browningia amstutziae (Rauh & Backeb.) Hutchison ex Krainz 1965
– Browningia candelaris* Britton & Rose 1920
– Browningia candelaris subsp. icaensis (F.Ritter) Hunt 2002
– Browningia chlorocarpa* (Kunth) W.T.Marshall 1945
– Browningia hernandezii F.AIonso 2006
– Browningia microsperma* (Werderm. & Backeb.) W.T.Marshall 1947
– Browningia pilleifera (F.Ritter) Hutchison 1968
– Browningia utcubambensis H.Wittner 2012 (doubtful taxon)

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)

April 19, 2016May 31, 2016

BRASILIPARODIA

http://www.cactusinhabitat.org/images/uploads/218/b_02-1180926.JPG

Autor: Ritter

• ETYMOLOGY
“Parodia of Brazil”, highlighting the origin of the genus, Brazil, because Parodia s.s. is mainly from Argentina.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of small plants, solitary or forming clumps of more or less spherical to elongated stems, with the apex
depressed, with low ribs, well defined by areoles, divided into spiralled small tubercles, with long fibrous roots which
can reach up to 50 cm long. Areoles densely woolly. Radial spines rather small, setose, flexible, interlaced, more
abundant toward the apex; central spines longer and sturdier, straight, curved or hooked.
Flowers diurnal, apical, more or less funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, with a short tube, woolly and having some bristles, golden yellow with tepals striped dark reddish, lasting for several days, pollinated by insects. Fruits spherical, finely woolly, green, rarely red, usually drying on the plant without opening. Seeds similar to those of Acanthocephala (ex Brasilicactus), however smaller, finely warty, black.
• HABITAT
The genus Brasiliparodia grows in the mountains of southern Brazil at about 1000 m in altitude, in the shade, among grasses, mosses and ferns, forming large clumps, often on rocky outcrops and granitic or gneissic inselbergs, in cracks of rocks. The soil is well drained and contains many organic elements arising from the decomposition of the surrounding plant material. The pH may be very acidic (between 4 and 6). Annual rainfall is usually higher than for most of the other Cactaceae (100-200 mm and more).
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina).

Currently 2 probable or more species:
– Brasiliparodia alacriportana* (Backeberg & Voli) Ritter 1979
– Brasiliparodia rechensis (Burning) Ritter 1979

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016

BRASILIOPUNTIA

http://www.cactusinhabitat.org/images/uploads/260/b_04-1150078.JPG

Autor: (Schumann) Berger

• ETYMOLOGY
Opuntia of Brazil, placing the origin of the genus in this country, although it was later found also in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru .
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of treelike plants, with a clearly defined trunk, covered with groups of spines, with cylindrical stems producing pads (or cladodes) rather thin, wearing few aciculate spines. Tiny leaves quickly deciduous.
Flowers diurnal, self sterile, appearing on terminal pads, yellow, pollinated by bees. Fruits spherical, fleshy, very variable in shape and colours, can be yellow, orange, red or purple, with areoles densely covered with glochids. Seeds very large, yellow, thick, more or less discoid, with a strongly woolly funicular envelope. Dispersion of seeds probably ensured by mammals such as peccaries (Tayassu pecari).
• HABITAT
The genus Brasiliopuntia has a wide but fragmented habitat in South America. This is a genus growing in dry spiny or ombrophilous forests, on plains or hills, from Brazil to Peru. It prefers a warm and humid climate, although it is also found in semi-open woodlands, natural rockeries, semi-deciduous woodlands, in the valleys of the river Paraná, humid woodlands of the Paraguay and Pilcomayo rivers, and in granitic mountains of Eastern Paraguay, up to 1300 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
N. Argentina ( Chaco), E. Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz), Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro), Paraguay (Viola Paraguay, Amambay, Central, Concepción, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Paraguari), Peru (Cuzco, Junin). Naturalized in the USA, Florida.

Currently only one recognised species:
– Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis* (Willd.) A.Berger 1926

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016

BRASILICEREUS

Autor: Backeberg

• ETYMOLOGY
” Wax candle of Brazil “, specifying the Brazilian origin of the genus.
• DESCRIPTION
A shrubby genus, rarely branched, with erect or bent fine cylindrical stems with narrow ribs. Areoles woolly, spines
setose or aciculate. Roots fibrous.
Flowers nocturnal, shortly tubular to bell-shaped, whitish to pale green, pollinated by bats. Fruits egg-shaped to pearshaped, indehiscent, floral remains persistent. Seeds black, smooth and shiny.
• HABITAT
The genus Brasilicereus grows in subtropical or tropical dry deciduous forests, protected by the surrounding
vegetation, often on granite or gneiss inselbergs, from 40 m up to 950 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais).

Currently 2 recognised species:
– Brasilicereus markgrafii* Backeb. & Voli 1949
– Brasilicereus phaeacanthus (Giirke) Backeb. 1941

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016

BRAGAlA

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Bragaia_estevesii_flowering.jpg

Autor: Esteves, Hofacker & Braun

• ETYMOLOGY
A genus honouring Alexander Braga Nascimento, who recently discovered this taxon (see portrait above, ©Alex Braga Nascimento).
• DESCRIPTION
Monospecific genus recently established for a taxon currently unclassifiable among the known genera, with tuberous roots, cylindrical stems sparsely branched and ligneous at the base, erect, up to 4 m high, with 10-12 ribs, covered with long ciculate spines, more numerous towards the top.
Flowers nocturnal, tubular, naked, appearing laterally towards the top, floral tube with few scales, with extra-floral nectar glands, with tepals variable in colour, greenish-white with a green floral tube, greenish yellow to reddish, pollinated by bats. Fruits rather small, elongated to spherical (15-19 mm X 6-8 mm), glabrous, with transparent pulp. Seeds helmet-shaped to cochleariform (snail shell-shaped), black, shiny and striate, with a finely convex relief.
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Bragaia grows endemically in the state of Bahia, Brazil, in deciduous dry forests (catinga) in the shade of trees and of shrubs, on loamy soil, to approximately 500 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Bahia).

Currently only one recognised species:
– Bragaia estevesii Hofacker & P.J.Braun 2009

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3723-9 (Vol. 1)