Autor: Britton & Rose • ETYMOLOGY “Short wax candle”, referring to the relatively small size of the stems of the genus. • DESCRIPTION Monospecific genus growing in dense clumps, with cylindrical, non articulated stems, branching from the base. Ribs many (18-22), low, spines more or less stiff, yellow becoming blackish and covering the epidermis. Flowers nocturnal (according…
Autor: Riccobono • ETYMOLOGY A genus honouring Antonio Borzi (1852-1921), director of the botanical garden of Palermo, in Italy (see portrait above, ©Public Affairs Branch Office in Palermo, Italy). • DESCRIPTION A genus made up of erect, crawling or decumbent plants, with more or less sturdy, cylindrical, long stems, ribs rounded, more or less thick around the areoles,…
Autor: A.B. Doweld • ETYMOLOGY “Cactus of Bolivia”, because the type species of this genus is native to northern Bolivia. • DESCRIPTION A genus of globose to shortly columnar plants, with 13-21 ribs, more or less tuberculate, radial spines variable in number, central spines 4-6 ( 8 ), aciculate, often hooked. Flowers diurnal, born at the…
Autor: Werdermann • ETYMOLOGY A genus created to honour Harry Blossfeld junior (1913-1986), who discovered this taxon (see portrait above, ©Haage). • DESCRIPTION A genus of tiny discoid plants, button-shaped, at first solitary, then forming small clumps, with a greyish-green epidermis. Spines absent. Flowers diurnal, subapical, self-fertile, but also pollinated by bees, creamy-white to pale pink,…
Autor: Britton & Rose • ETYMOLOGY A genus honouring Alwin Berger (1871-1931), who was for several years the curator of Thomas Hanbury’s botanical garden at La Mortola, Italy (see portrait above, ©Haage). • DESCRIPTION Monospecific genus of large bushes with slender cylindrical stems, branching near the base, very spiny, with golden yellow aciculate spines completely covering…