Salmonopuntia
| Salmonopuntia | |
|---|---|
| File:Salmonopuntia salmiana.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Opuntioideae |
| Tribe | Opuntieae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Salmonopuntia |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). The genus is considered incertae sedis within Opuntieae. |
Etymology
The origin of the name is uncertain. It may refer to the salmon-like coloration of the stems under stress. The earlier name Salmiopuntia honoured Prince Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck.
Description
Salmonopuntia is a monotypic genus of shrubby cacti with cylindrical stems.
- Habit: Low shrubs branching mainly from the base.
- Stems: Slender, cylindrical segments, easily detached, often tinged pink to purple.
- Areoles: Small, white, woolly, bearing yellow glochids.
- Spines: Variable in number, sometimes absent.
- Flowers: Diurnal, rotate, pale yellow to whitish; buds pink to scarlet; often self-sterile but capable of forming fruits without pollination.
- Fruits: Elongated to clavate, reddish to violet, often proliferating.
- Seeds: Poorly known; plants often considered partially sterile, though a few seeds may occur.
Habitat
The species grows in a variety of environments, including forests, foothills, rocky areas, and grasslands, often on loamy, sandy, or gravelly soils.
Altitude range: from about 80 m up to 2330 m.
Distribution
- South America:
Argentina (Catamarca, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Rioja, Salta, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, San Luis), Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija), Paraguay (Boquerón, Alto Paraguay), Brazil (uncertain)
Taxonomy
The taxonomic history of this genus is complex.
The species was originally described as Opuntia salmiana and later transferred to several genera, including Cylindropuntia, Austrocylindropuntia, and Platyopuntia.
The monotypic genus Salmonopuntia was established by P.V. Heath (1999), following earlier invalid attempts under the name Salmiopuntia.
Molecular studies (Griffith & Porter 2009; Nyffeler & Eggli 2010; Majure et al. 2012) indicate that this taxon forms a distinct lineage outside Opuntia sensu stricto, possibly representing a transitional form between cylindrical-stemmed ancestors and flattened-stemmed Opuntia.
According to Joël Lodé (2015), the genus is accepted but remains of uncertain placement (incertae sedis) within Opuntieae.
Species
Following the classification of Joël Lodé (2015).
Notes
- The genus is monotypic.
- Considerable variation in cultivated material suggests that more than one taxon may be involved.
- Represents an important evolutionary link within Opuntioideae.
- Historically confused with multiple genera due to its intermediate morphology.
