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)