Trichocereus
From M&J Cactus Wiki
| Trichocereus | |
|---|---|
| File:Trichocereus pachanoi.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Trichocereinae |
| Genus | Trichocereus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with molecular insights from Ritz et al. (2007), Arakaki (2008), Albesiano & Terrazas (2012), and Schlumpberger & Renner (2012). |
Etymology
The name means "hairy Cereus", referring to the characteristic hairy floral tube.
Description
Trichocereus is a genus of columnar cacti ranging from creeping to massive tree-like forms.
- Habit: Shrubby to arborescent; erect, decumbent or rarely pendulous; up to ~15 m tall.
- Stems: Columnar, with straight ribs.
- Areoles: Close-set, woolly.
- Spines: Radial and central, highly variable; from fine acicular to strong subulate.
- Flowers: Large, funnel-shaped; nocturnal or diurnal; white, yellow, red, pink or purple.
- Floral tube: Long, thick, scaly, with dense hairs (usually dark).
- Pollination: Extremely diverse — bees, moths, bats, birds and insects.
- Fruits: Globose, thick-walled; hairy but spineless; pulp white.
- Seeds: Small, dark brown to black, pitted; dispersal by ants, birds and bats.
Habitat
Extremely wide ecological range:
- deserts, valleys, slopes, canyons and plains
- rocky, sandy and saline soils
- xerophytic shrublands
Altitude range: ~25–4300 m.
Some species tolerate frost and snow.
Distribution
South America:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Peru
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
Taxonomy
One of the most complex genera in Cactaceae.
Key points:
- Historically separated from Echinopsis based on floral morphology
- Later merged into Echinopsis sensu lato (Hunt et al.)
- Molecular studies show that Echinopsis s.l. is polyphyletic
- Strong links with Lobivia, Soehrensia and related groups
Current interpretation:
- Trichocereus sensu stricto is accepted
- Helianthocereus is included within it
- Relationships remain partially unresolved
Species
Following Joël Lodé (2015):
- Trichocereus bertramianus
- Trichocereus bolligerianus
- Trichocereus bridgesii
- Trichocereus cabrerae
- Trichocereus camarguensis
- Trichocereus purpureopilosus
- Trichocereus rowleyi
- Trichocereus quadratiumbonatus
- Trichocereus schickendantzii
- Trichocereus schoenii
- Trichocereus serpentinus
- Trichocereus skottsbergii
- Trichocereus smrzianus
- Trichocereus spachianus
- Trichocereus spinibarbis
- Trichocereus strigosus
- Trichocereus tacaquirensis
- Trichocereus taquimbalensis
- Trichocereus tarijensis
- Trichocereus terscheckii
- Trichocereus thelegonoides
- Trichocereus thelegonus
- Trichocereus tunariensis
- Trichocereus vasquezii
- Trichocereus vatteri
- Trichocereus vollianus
- Trichocereus walteri
- Trichocereus werdermannianus
Additional taxa (after Albesiano 2012)
- Trichocereus chiloensis subsp. australis
- Trichocereus chiloensis subsp. eburneus
- Trichocereus chiloensis subsp. panhoplites
- Trichocereus faundezii
- Trichocereus nigripilis
- Trichocereus pectiniferus
- Trichocereus undulosus
- Trichocereus uyupampensis
Notes
- One of the most taxonomically debated cactus genera.
- Strong morphological convergence complicates classification.
- Molecular data only partially resolves relationships.
- Closely linked to Echinopsis, Lobivia and Soehrensia.
- Species limits remain fluid and subject to revision.
