Escontria
| Escontria | |
|---|---|
| File:Escontria chiotilla.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Pachycereeae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Escontria |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé maintains Escontria as a monotypic genus, distinct from Myrtillocactus. |
Etymology
The genus is named in honor of Don Blas Escontria (1848–1906), a Mexican engineer and politician who was the governor of San Luis Potosí.
Description
Escontria is a monotypic genus represented by large, tree-like cacti that can reach up to 7 meters in height.
- Stems: Short trunk with numerous branches (basitonic to mesotonic branching). The stems are dark green with 7 to 8 acute ribs.
- Areoles: Large and elliptical, initially separate but becoming confluent (joining together) with age.
- Spines: Radial spines are numerous and brownish; central spines are longer, flattened, and dagger-like (gladiate).
- Flowers: Diurnal, relatively small, and yellow. They emerge from the upper areoles and are characterized by a pericarpel covered with numerous imbricated (overlapping) papery scales.
- Fruits: Globose, purple to reddish, and fleshy. The fruit is covered in persistent papery scales, giving it an appearance similar to a small artichoke. The pulp is edible and sold in local Mexican markets as "chiotilla."
- Seeds: Small, black, and rugose.
Habitat
Escontria grows in tropical deciduous forests and xerophytic scrublands. It is often found on slopes with volcanic or calcareous soils at altitudes between 1600 m and 2000 m.
Distribution
- Mexico: Endemic to the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, and Puebla.
Species
Following Lodé (2015), the genus contains only one species:
- Escontria chiotilla (Type species)
Taxonomy
While some earlier molecular studies suggested a close relationship with Myrtillocactus, Lodé retains Escontria as a separate genus based on its unique floral and fruit morphology. The dry, papery scales on the fruit are a definitive autapomorphy that distinguishes it from all other members of the tribe Pachycereeae.
