Lemaireocereus

Lemaireocereus
File:Lemaireocereus hollianus.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Phyllocacteae
SubTribe	Echinocereinae
Genus	Lemaireocereus
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé resurrects this genus for species formerly included in Stenocereus.

Etymology

The genus is named in honor of Charles Lemaire (1800–1871), a prominent French botanist and cactus specialist.

Description

Lemaireocereus consists of large, columnar, and often branched cacti that can reach tree-like proportions.

• Stems: Erect, stout, and greyish-green. They branch primarily from the base or a short trunk.
• Ribs: Typically 10 to 14, well-defined and acute.
• Spines: Strong, needle-like, and variable in color (white to blackish). The central spines are notably longer and more robust.
• Flowers: Diurnal or crepuscular, appearing near the apex. They are funnel-shaped to bell-shaped, white to pale pink, and have a relatively short floral tube covered with scales and hairs.
• Fruits: Globose, fleshy, and covered with spines that often fall off at maturity (deciduous spines). The pulp is red or purple and edible.
• Seeds: Relatively large, black, and shiny.

Habitat

The genus grows in dry deciduous forests and thorn scrubs, often on rocky slopes or alluvial plains. They are highly adapted to the hot, semi-arid climate of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. Altitudinal range: 500–1800 m.

Distribution

• Mexico: Southern and central states (Oaxaca, Puebla).

Species

Following the classification of Lodé (2015), the genus includes 2 recognized species:

• Lemaireocereus hollianus (Type species)
• Lemaireocereus lepidanthus

Taxonomy

While long synonymized with Stenocereus, molecular and morphological evidence supports the reinstatement of Lemaireocereus. Lodé (2015) points out that L. hollianus and L. lepidanthus form a distinct clade within the Echinocereinae, characterized by their specific floral and fruit morphology which differs from the core group of Stenocereus.