Cumulopuntia
| Cumulopuntia | |
|---|---|
| File:Cumulopuntia boliviana.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Opuntioideae |
| Tribe | Tephrocacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Cumulopuntia |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) and Ritz et al. (2012). |
Etymology
The name translates to "Pile of Opuntias," from the Latin cumulus (heap/pile), referring to the characteristic mound-shaped or compact cushion-like growth habit of the plants.
Description
Cumulopuntia comprises low-growing, densely branched cacti that form spiny, compact cushions. The stems are divided into small, succulent segments that are typically spherical, ellipsoid, or egg-shaped. They possess either tuberous or fibrous roots.
The areoles are equipped with hairs and glochids, with spines often concentrated at the upper part of each segment. The flowers are diurnal, funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, and appear in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, or red. The fruits are globular and fleshy when young but contain dry seeds. An interesting biological aspect is **endozoochory**: animals like chinchillas and guanacos eat the fruits and disperse the seeds through their excrement.
Habitat
This genus is one of the highest-dwelling in the cactus family. While some species are found near sea level, others thrive in the extreme conditions of the high Andean Altiplano, reaching up to **4700 meters** in altitude (specifically C. boliviana subsp. echinacea). They grow in full sun among rocks, sand, or high-altitude grasses.
Distribution
- Argentina: Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, etc.
- Bolivia: La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, etc.
- Chile: Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Tarapacá.
- Peru: Arequipa, Cusco, Lima, Puno, Tacna.
Species
Following Joël Lodé and the updates by Ritz et al. (2012), 18 species and 4 subspecies are recognized:
- Cumulopuntia boliviana
- Cumulopuntia chichensis
- Cumulopuntia corotilla
- Cumulopuntia frigida
- Cumulopuntia fulvicoma
- Cumulopuntia galerasensis
- Cumulopuntia hystrix
- Cumulopuntia ignota
- Cumulopuntia iturbicola
- Cumulopuntia leucophaea
- Cumulopuntia mistiensis
- Cumulopuntia pentlandii
- Cumulopuntia pyrrhacantha
- Cumulopuntia rossiana
- Cumulopuntia sphaerica
- Cumulopuntia subterranea
- Cumulopuntia tumida
- Cumulopuntia zehnderi
Notes
- Phylogeny: Recent molecular work (Ritz et al., 2012) confirms the position of Cumulopuntia within the tribe **Tephrocacteae**, closely associated with Austrocylindropuntia and Pterocactus.
- Systematics: The species Puna subterranea (formerly Maihueniopsis subterranea) is now firmly included in this genus as Cumulopuntia subterranea.
- Morphology vs. Genetics: Although Cumulopuntia and Maihueniopsis look similar due to ecological convergence, they are not closely related.
