ACANTHOCEPHALA

May 30, 2016October 6, 2016

Acanthocephala haselbergii

http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/BB/BB6C2B3D-C2A2-4274-B310-5A93B0527696/Presentation.Large/parodia-haselbergii-in-flower.jpg

Acanthocephala haselbergii* (Haage ex Rümpler) Guiggi 2012

– Parodia haselbergii (F. Haage ex Rumpler) F. H. Brandt 1982
– Echinocactus haselbergii F. Haage ex Rumpler 1885,
– Malacocarpus haselbergii (F. Haage ex Rumpler) Britton & Rose 1922,
– Notocactus haselbergii (F. Haage ex Rumpler) A. Berger 1929,
– Brasilicactus haselbergii (F. Haage ex Rumpler) Backeberg ex Schoff 1942
– Echinocactus elachisanthus F. A. C. Weber 1904,
– Notocactus elachisanthus (F. A. C. Weber) Herter 1942,
– Brasilicactus elaschisanthus (F. A. C. Weber) Backeberg 1959,
– Parodia elaschisantha (F. A. C. Weber) F.H.Brandt 1982

Plants solitary, globose, bright to gray-green, somewhat depressed apically, 7-8 cm (2.8-3.1 in) in diameter. Ribs 30 or more, somewhat tuberculate, spirally arranged. Areoles white. Central spines 3-5, yellowish, 10-15 mm (0.4-0.6 in) long. Radial spines 60 or more, needle-like, almost bristly, yellowish white, to 10 mm (0.4 in) long. Flowers yellowish red to orange-red to yellowish green, 2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 in) in diameter floral tubes short or absent; pericarpels and floral tubes with small scales, wool, and bristles. Fruits not known.

Distribution: Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

References: Anderson E.F. - The Cactus Family

May 30, 2016October 6, 2016

Acanthocephala graessneri

http://www.ufrgs.br/fitoecologia/florars/imagens/6770071575ea880598b168060edf2f27bda1.JPG

Acanthocephala graessneri – (K.Schum.) Guiggi 2012

– Echinocactus graessneri K. Schumann 1903,
– Malacocarpus graessneri (K. Schumann) Britton & Rose 1922,
– Notocactus graessneri (K. Schumann) A. Berger 1929,
– Brasilicactus graessneri (K. Schumann) Backeberg 1942,
– Parodia graessneri (K. Schumann) F. H. Brandt 1982,
– Parodia haselbergii subsp. graessneri (K. Schumann) Hofacker & P. J. Braun 1998,

Plants solitary, globose, bright to gray-green, somewhat depressed apically, 7-8 cm (2.8-3.1 in) in diameter. Ribs 30 or more, somewhat tuberculate, spirally arranged. Areoles white. Central spines 3-5, yellowish, 10-15 mm (0.4-0.6 in) long. Radial spines 20 – 60 or more, needle-like, almost bristly, yellowish white, to 10 mm (0.4 in) long. Flowers yellowish to yellowish green, 2.5-3 cm (1-1.2 in) in diameter floral tubes short or absent; pericarpels and floral tubes with small scales, wool, and bristles. Fruits not known.
Distribution: Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

References: Anderson E.F. - The Cactus Family

April 14, 2016June 1, 2016

Autor: Backeberg

• ETYMOLOGY
“Spiny head”, because the genus is completely covered with spines.
• DESCRIPTION
A genus of small solitary plants, more or less spherical to elongated, the apex depressed, many low ribs (30-60), divided into spiralled small tubercles. Many spines (25-60), small, but rather stiff and dense, white or yellow.
Flowers diurnal, rather small, appearing in the apex, more or less funnel-shaped to campanulate, with a short tube, self-fertile, greenish, yellowish-green, yellow, orange-coloured or red flame, usually pollinated by insects. Fruits spherical, abundantly setose, usually drying on the plant without opening, floral remains persistent. Seeds rather small, elongated, strongly warty, black. Strophiole absent.
• HABITAT
The genus Acanthocephala grows in southern Brazil, from low altitudes up to 1500 m, among grasses, in the cracks of rocky terraces or hilly slopes, in the crevices of rocks, mostly among moss.
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul).

Currently 2 recognised species:
– Acanthocephala graessneri (K.Schum.) Guiggi 2012
– Acanthocephala haselbergii* (Haage ex Rümpler) Guiggi 2012

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