Aylostera
| Aylostera | |
|---|---|
| File:Aylostera fiebrigii.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Rebutiinae |
| Genus | Aylostera |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) and Mosti et al. (2011). |
Etymology
The name Aylostera means "Sturdy flute", which refers to the typical shape of the elongated and erect floral tube characteristic of this genus.
Description
Aylostera is a genus of small, caespitose plants with globular, flattened stems that often form dense cushions. They are characterized by areoles bearing hairs and/or bristles. Some species develop a significant taproot. The spines are typically setose (bristle-like) to finely aciculate (needle-like).
The flowers are diurnal and self-sterile, emerging from the base of the plant. A key diagnostic feature is that the stamens and pistil are fused to the base of the receptacle (inferior ovary). Flower colors are vibrant, including red, orange, and white, and they are pollinated by bees. The fruits are spherical and setose, with persistent floral remains. The seeds are black, bell-shaped, and tuberculate.
Habitat
The genus is native to the high Andean mountains. They grow in the cracks of detrital rocks and on rock faces, usually in full sun. Their altitude range is impressive, stretching from 1360 m up to 4300 m above sea level.
Distribution
- Argentina (Jujuy, Salta)
- Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Oruro, Potosí, Santa Cruz, Tarija)
Species
The genus currently includes approximately 30 recognized species and numerous subspecies (including those formerly placed in Mediolobivia):
- Aylostera albiflora
- Aylostera albopectinata
- Aylostera aureiflora
- Aylostera cajasensis
- Aylostera deminuta
- Aylostera donaldiana
- Aylostera einsteinii
- Aylostera fiebrigii
- Aylostera flavistyla
- Aylostera fulviseta
- Aylostera fusca
- Aylostera heliosa
- Aylostera hoffmannii
- Aylostera huasiensis
- Aylostera kupperiana
- Aylostera mamillosa
- Aylostera muscula
- Aylostera narvaecense
- Aylostera perplexa
- Aylostera pseudodeminuta
- Aylostera pulvinosa
- Aylostera pygmaea
- Aylostera ritteri
- Aylostera robustispina
- Aylostera spegazziniana
- Aylostera spinosissima
- Aylostera steinmannii
- Aylostera tarijensis
- Aylostera vulpina
- Aylostera walteri
Notes
- For a long time, Aylostera was treated as a synonym of Rebutia s.l. However, molecular studies (Ritz et al., 2007; Mosti et al., 2011) confirmed it as a distinct clade, characterized by the presence of hairs and bristles on the pericarpel (unlike Rebutia s.s. which is naked).
- DNA analysis shows that Aylostera and Mediolobivia are phylogenetically more distant from Rebutia than Weingartia and Sulcorebutia are.
- The genus includes the former genus Mediolobivia as a sub-genus or synonym, following the recommendations of Rowley (2009) and Mosti & Papini (2011).
- There is still ongoing debate regarding species boundaries, with over 110 taxa recently recombined into Aylostera, though the actual number of distinct species is likely much lower.
