Strophocactus brasiliensis

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Strophocactus brasiliensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Strophocactus
Species:
S. brasiliensis
Binomial name
Strophocactus brasiliensis
(Britton & Rose) S.Arias & N.Korotkova[2]
Synonyms[3][4]
  • Acanthocereus brasiliensis Britton & Rose
  • Pseudoacanthocereus boreominarum Rizzini & A.Mattos
  • Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis (Britton & Rose) F.Ritter

Strophocactus brasiliensis, synonym Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and hot deserts. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Description[edit]

Strophocactus brasiliensis grows as a shrub, later spreading to prostrate, shiny, bright green shoots, initially upright and later sprawling. It branches freely. The thin stems are up to 3 cm (1.2 in) across and have 2–7 ribs bearing small areoles with many needle-like spines 2 to 4 centimeters apart. The small areoles are From them arise numerous needle-like, white thorns that have a darker tip and are up to 3 centimeters long. The white funnel-shaped flowers are 12–23 cm (5–9 in) long and 11–12 cm (4–5 in) across. They open at night. The spherical fruits are initially green and yellow when ripe.[5]

Taxonomy[edit]

Strophocactus brasiliensis was first described, as Acanthocereus brasiliensis, by Britton and Rose in 1920.[2] It was transferred to the genus Pseudoacanthocereus as Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis by Friedrich Ritter in 1979,[6] a placement still accepted by some sources as of February 2021.[3] A molecular phylogenetic study of the Hylocereeae by Korotkova et al. published in 2017 showed that Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis formed a clade with Strophocactus wittii and Pseudoacanthocereus sicariguensis (the only other species placed in Pseudoacanthocereus):[4]

Neoraimondia herzogiana

Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis

Pseudoacanthocereus sicariguensis 

Strophocactus wittii

Strophocactus sensu Korotkova et al. (2017)

Accordingly, both species of Pseudoacanthocereus were transferred to Strophocactus.[4]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Strophocactus brasiliensis is native to Northeast and Southeast Brazil in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais at altitudes of 40 to 700 meters.[3] It is found in the eastern caatinga ecoregion,[4] an area of thorn scrub and seasonally dry forests.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Taylor, N.P.; Machado, M.; Zappi, D.; Braun, P. (2017). "Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T40861A121555507. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T40861A121555507.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Strophocactus brasiliensis (Britton & Rose) S.Arias & N.Korotkova". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis (Britton & Rose) F.Ritter". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  4. ^ a b c d Korotkova, Nadja; Borsch, Thomas & Arias, Salvador (2017), "A phylogenetic framework for the Hylocereeae (Cactaceae) and implications for the circumscription of the genera", Phytotaxa, 327 (1): 1–46, doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.327.1.1
  5. ^ Anderson, Edward F. (2001), "Pseudoacanthocereus", The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, pp. 591–592, ISBN 978-0-88192-498-5
  6. ^ "Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis (Britton & Rose) F.Ritter". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Leal, Inara R.; Silva, José Maria Cardoso Da; Tabarelli, Marcelo; Lacher, Thomas E. (2005). "Changing the Course of Biodiversity Conservation in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil". Conservation Biology. 19 (3): 701–706. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00703.x.