cactusclassification – Page 9 – THE LAST CACTUS CLASSIFICATION

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

PTEROCEREUS

http://cactiguide.com/graphics/p_gaumeri_h_600.jpg

Autor: (Britton & Rose) MacDougall & Miranda

• ETYMOLOGY
“Winged Cereus”, referring to the angled, thin ribs of the genus.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of erect columnar plants, unbranched or only slightly (from 1.50 m high), being able to reach up to 8 m high, ribs 3-4, strongly angled and thin, with a bluish green to greyish green epidermis. Areoles few, widely spaced, woolly. Spines, approximately 10-12, short, aciculate. Probable dispersal through ornithochory.
Flowers nocturnal, self sterile, cylindrical to shortly funnel-shaped, only one per areole, whitish to pale greenish yellow, with pale green imbricated scales, strongly recurved, nauseous odour, pollinated by bats. Fruits globose, scaly and spiny, pale red, with floral remains persistent. Seeds large, brown, smooth and shiny.
• HABITAT
The genus Pterocereus grows endemically in southern Mexico, practically at sea level, in the deciduous dry forests of Yucatan, and uses the surrounding vegetation to grow first in the shade of plant defenders (nodricism), then, to remain erect. It lives together with other cacti such as Acanthocereus, Hylocereus, Mammillaria, Opuntia, Selenicereus and Stenocereus.
• DISTRIBUTION
Mexique (Campeche, Chiapas, Yucatan).

Currently only one recognised species + a possible subspecies:
– Pterocereus gaumeri* (Britton & Rose) MacDougall & Miranda 1954
– Pterocereus gaumeri subsp. foetidus* (MacDougall & Miranda) Arias & Terrazas 2009

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

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

PTEROCACTUS

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/97/93/8d/97938dcb571044843864c5f2e0f5a295.jpg

Autor: Schumann

• ETYMOLOGY
≪Winged Cactus≫, referring to the characteristic winged seeds of the genus.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of geophytic dwarf plants with large tuberous roots; stems segmented, globose or cylindrical, breaking and rooting easily, often papillose, often disappearing in the dry season; areoles having spines and glochids are present or absent according to species. Spines finely aciculate or subulate, curved, sometimes papery. Leaves tiny, soon deciduous.
Flowers diurnal, self-sterile, rotate emerging directly from stem tips, yellow to reddish or reddish brown, with slightly tuberculate pericarpel and bearing fine spines, pollinated by hymenoptera. Stamens sensitive to contact. Fruits dry, capsule-like with lateral dehiscence, densely covered with spines. Seeds large, pale yellow to light brown, more or less circular, typically with a papery winged membrane, lightweight, for wind-pollinated dispersal (anemophily).
• HABITAT
The genus Pterocactus grows essentially from Patagonia into northern Argentina, in small colonies on sandy or clayey soils, sometimes salt plains, on gentle sloping hills, also on rocky soils, near the coast, practically from sea level (P. valentinii) up to 3050 m in altitude (P. megliolH). The genus was originally considered endemic to Argentina, but populations were recently discovered in southern Chile (Kiesling 2002). In some regions, Pterocactus can endure severe frosts.
• DISTRIBUTION
Argentina (Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Cordoba, Jujuy, Pampa, Rioja, Mendoza, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Tucuman), Chile (Aisen).

Currently 9 recognised species:
– Pterocactus araucanus A.Castellanos 1964
– Pterocactus australis (Weber) Backeberg 1950
– Pterocactus fischeri Britton & Rose 1914
– Pterocactus gonjianii* R.Kiesling 1982
– Pterocactus hickenii Britton & Rose 1919
– Pterocactus megliolii* R.Kiesling 1971
– Pterocactus reticulatus R.Kiesling 1971
– Pterocactus tuberosus* (Pfeiffer) Britton & Rose 1919 (= P. decipiens?, = P. kuntzei?)
– Pterocactus valentina* Spegazzini 1899

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

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

PSEUDORHIPSALIS

Autor: Britton & Rose

• ETYMOLOGY
“False Rhipsalis”, because of the superficial resemblance with the genus Rhipsalis, but Pseudorhipsalis would rather be related to Dlsocactus.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of bushy to shrubby plants, usually epiphytic, occasionally lithophytic, erect, then arching. Stems first cylindrical, then flattened (phylloclades), crenulate or not. The young areoles are often citiate, naked when mature. Spines absent.
Flowers diurnal, rather small, solitary, appearing at the base of areoles, shortly funnel-shaped to rotate, with a short tube, white to yellowish white, greenish, or pinkish, more rarely bluish (P. amazуnica), supposedly pollinated by bees, and hummingbirds in P. amazуnica although the flowers of the latter open at night. Fruits spherical berry-like to eggshaped, hairless, whitish or pink to pale magenta when ripe, often tinged with purple. Seeds pear-shaped, slightly pitted or tuberculate, black or dark brown.
• HABITAT
The genus Pseudorhipsalis is extremely widespread in tropical areas of Central and South America as well as part of the Caribbean islands, and grows epiphytically in trees, in deciduous dry forests, also in rainforests, volcanic regions, from sea level up to 1500 m in altitude.
• DISTRIBUTION
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (Acre, Roraima), Colombia (Antioquia, Bolivar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Quindio, Santander), Costa Rica (Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose), El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala (Alta Verapaz, Peten), Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico (Chiapas, Jalisco, Nayarit, Tabasco), Nicaragua, Panama (Cocle, Colon, Darien, Panama), Peru (Amazonas, Huanuco, Loreto, Madre de Dios, San Martin, Ucayali), Dominican Republic, Venezuela (Apure, Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda, Zulia).

Currently 6 recognised species:
– Pseudorhipsalis acuminata Cufodontis 1933
– Pseudorhipsalis alata (Swartz) Britton & Rose 1923
– Pseudorhipsalis amazуnica* (Schumann) Ralf Bauer 2003
– Pseudorhipsalis himantoclada (Roland-Gosselin) Britton & Rose 1923
– Pseudorhipsalis lankesteri (Kimnach) Barthlott 1991
– Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa (Salm-Dyck) Barthlott 1991

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

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016

PSEUDOACANTHOCEREUS

Autor: Ritter

• ETYMOLOGY
“False Acanthocereus”, referring to the superficial resemblance with this genus.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of bushy low growing plants with strongly branched stems, at first erect, then arched and pendulous, with few ribs (2-8), but variable, slender and well-defined. Areoles rather small, brown, spines short and aciculate.
Flowers nocturnal, self-sterile, funnel-shaped with a long tube, white, fragrant, pollinated by Sphingideae. Fruits globose, fleshy, very fragrant (somewhat reminiscent of pineapple), pale yellow, indehiscent, bearing spines falling when ripe. Seeds large, flattened, slightly striate, pale brown. Dispersal ensured among others by peccaries (Tayassu pecari) Which truly appreciate cactus fruits.
• HABITAT
The genus Pseudoacanthocereus grows between 300-400 m in altitude, in Brazil, in the caatinga, also In the Carribbean lowlands in Colombia and Venezuela, in subtropical dry forests, or scrubland, mostly in the shade. It supports itself on the surrounding vegetation.
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Sergipe), Colombia, Venezuela (Falcon, Lara, Zulia).

Currently 2 recognised species:
– Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis* (Britton & Rose) Ritter 1979
– Pseudoacanthocereus sicariguensis* (Croizat & Tamayo) Taylor 1992

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

May 24, 2016May 29, 2016

PRAECEREUS

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Autor: Buxbaum

• ETYMOLOGY
Genus supposed older than Cereus, hence the name (prae = before).
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of shrubby plants, with slender cylindrical stems, more or less erect to prostrate, without mucilage, strongly branched at the base, except when the apex has been damaged. Areoles rounded, situated on a prominence, spines aciculate.
Flowers nocturnal, self-sterile, funnel-shaped, with a curved, naked, sturdy, thick-walled floral tube, white to greenishyellow, slightly perfumed, pollinated by bats (Glossophaga longirostris) and Sphingideae. Fruits globose to egg-shaped, naked, fleshy, red with white juicy pulp, laterally dehiscent, floral remains persistent. Seeds black, shiny, elongated and ruminate to tuberculate. Dispersal of seeds probably ensured in some regions by the tapir (Tapirus terrestris).
• HABITAT
The genus Praecereus grows in the shade of tropical dry forests, cerrados (dense tropical savannas), around trees and shrubs, among rocks, on loamy soils, sometimes on sloping ground, from sea level up to 2000 m in altitude. Rainfall can reach 1000 mm / year and the temperature is high all year long.
• DISTRIBUTION
Argentina (Misiones), Bolivia (Beni, La Paz, Santa Cruz), Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Sao Paulo), Colombia, Ecuador (Loja), Paraguay (Manabi), Peru (Amazonas, Cajamarca, Lambayeque, Piura, San Martin, Tumbes), Trinidad, Venezuela (Vargas).

Currently one species + 4 subspecies:
– Praecereus euchlorus* Weber (Taylor) 1997
– Praecereus euchlorus subsp. amazonicus (K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor 1997
– Praecereus euchlorus subsp. diffusus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor 1997
– Praecereus euchlorus subsp. jaenensis (Rauh & Backeberg) Ostolaza 1998
– Praecereus euchlorus subsp. smithianus (Britton & Rose) N.P.Taylor 1997

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