Badmin: Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Pseudoacanthocereus | image = Pseudoacanthocereus_brasiliensis.jpg | kingdom = Plantae | family = Cactaceae | subfamily = Cactoideae | tribe = Phyllocacteae | subtribe = Echinocereinae | genus = '''Pseudoacanthocereus''' | authority = F.Ritter (1979) | notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Ritter (1979), Hunt & Taylor (1992), and Anderson (2001). }} == Etymology == The name means "false Acanthocereus", refer..."

2026-04-22T10:42:28Z

Created page with "{{Taxobox | name = Pseudoacanthocereus | image = Pseudoacanthocereus_brasiliensis.jpg | kingdom = Plantae | family = Cactaceae | subfamily = Cactoideae | tribe = Phyllocacteae | subtribe = Echinocereinae | genus = '''Pseudoacanthocereus''' | authority = F.Ritter (1979) | notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Ritter (1979), Hunt & Taylor (1992), and Anderson (2001). }} == Etymology == The name means "false Acanthocereus", refer..."

New page

{{Taxobox
| name = Pseudoacanthocereus
| image = Pseudoacanthocereus_brasiliensis.jpg
| kingdom = [[Plantae]]
| family = [[Cactaceae]]
| subfamily = [[Cactoideae]]
| tribe = [[Phyllocacteae]]
| subtribe = [[Echinocereinae]]
| genus = '''Pseudoacanthocereus'''
| authority = F.Ritter (1979)
| notes = Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Ritter (1979), Hunt & Taylor (1992), and Anderson (2001).
}}

== Etymology ==
The name means "false Acanthocereus", referring to its superficial resemblance to that genus.

== Description ==
'''Pseudoacanthocereus''' is a genus of low-growing, shrubby cacti with slender, climbing stems.

* '''Habit''': Bushy; strongly branched; initially erect, later arching or pendulous.
* '''Stems''': Slender; with 2–8 ribs; well-defined but variable.
* '''Areoles''': Small; brownish.
* '''Spines''': Short; acicular.
* '''Flowers''': Nocturnal; self-sterile; strongly fragrant.
* '''Flower shape''': Funnel-shaped with long floral tube.
* '''Flower color''': White.
* '''Pollination''': By sphingid moths (Sphingidae).
* '''Fruits''': Globose; fleshy; indehiscent; pale yellow; strongly fragrant (pineapple-like).
* '''Fruit traits''': Spines deciduous at maturity.
* '''Seeds''': Large; flattened; pale brown; slightly striate.
* '''Seed dispersal''': By animals, including peccaries (e.g. ''Tayassu pecari'').

== Habitat ==
Occurs in tropical dry environments:

* caatinga (Brazil)
* subtropical dry forests
* scrublands
* often growing in shade
* supported by surrounding vegetation

Altitude range: approximately 300–400 m.

== Distribution ==
South America:

* Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Sergipe)
* Colombia
* Venezuela (Falcón, Lara, Zulia)

Notably disjunct distribution (~4000 km between populations).

== Taxonomy ==
A small and poorly understood genus with notable disjunction.

Key points:

* Described by Ritter (1979) from ''Acanthocereus''-like taxa
* Distinguished mainly by fruit and seed morphology
* Accepted by Hunt & Taylor (1992) and Anderson (2001)
* Two geographically distant species suggest possible hidden diversity or historical distribution

The genus is accepted as distinct in Lodé (2015).

⚠️ Modern molecular studies (e.g. Korotkova et al., 2017) suggest that the species of this genus are closely related to ''Strophocactus'' and have been transferred there in recent classifications :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
However, this treatment is not followed here.

== Species ==
According to Joël Lodé (2015):

* [[Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis]]
* [[Pseudoacanthocereus sicariguensis]]

== Notes ==
* Must not be confused with ''Pseudoacanthocereus'' subgenus (Sánchez-Mejorada, 1974) within ''Acanthocereus''.
* Shows strong morphological similarity to ''Acanthocereus'', but differs in reproductive traits.
* Displays one of the most striking disjunctions in Cactaceae.
* Likely requires further molecular study to confirm evolutionary relationships.
* Represents a transitional morphological type between climbing and shrubby cacti.

[[Category:Cactaceae]]
[[Category:Cactoideae]]
[[Category:Phyllocacteae]]
[[Category:Echinocereinae]]
[[Category:Pseudoacanthocereus]]

Pseudoacanthocereus - Revision history