Cleistocactus
| Cleistocactus | |
|---|---|
| File:Cleistocactus strausii.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Trichocereinae |
| Genus | Cleistocactus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). |
Etymology
The name comes from the Greek word kleistos, meaning "closed," referring to the tubular flowers that remain almost entirely closed, opening only very slightly at the tip.
Description
Cleistocactus is a genus of shrubby cacti with mostly slender, erect, or sometimes pendulous and creeping cylindrical stems. The spines are typically numerous and finely setose, with little differentiation between central and radial spines.
The most distinctive feature of the genus is its diurnal, narrowly tubular flowers. They can be straight or slightly curved and come in a vibrant palette of colors including red, orange, yellow, pink, green, and even multi-colored patterns. These flowers are specifically adapted for pollination by hummingbirds. The fruits are small, spherical, and scaly, splitting open when ripe to reveal numerous small, shiny black seeds.
Habitat
Cleistocacti are primarily found in the Andes, ranging from low-altitude dry woodlands (100 m) to high-altitude mineral-rich valleys (3000 m). Some species, like C. baumannii, thrive in tropical conditions near wetlands with high rainfall, while others prefer the harsh, schistose substrates of high mountain passes.
Distribution
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
Species
Joël Lodé recognizes 27 species and 7 subspecies in the strict sense:
- Cleistocactus ayopayanus
- Cleistocactus baumannii
- Cleistocactus brookeae
- Cleistocactus buchtienii
- Cleistocactus candelilla
- Cleistocactus colademononis (Monkey's Tail Cactus)
- Cleistocactus dependens
- Cleistocactus ferrari
- Cleistocactus grossei
- Cleistocactus hildegardiae
- Cleistocactus hyalacanthus
- Cleistocactus jujuyensis
- Cleistocactus laniceps
- Cleistocactus luribayensis
- Cleistocactus morawetzianus
- Cleistocactus palhuayensis
- Cleistocactus parapetiensis
- Cleistocactus parviflorus
- Cleistocactus pungens
- Cleistocactus pycnacanthus
- Cleistocactus reae
- Cleistocactus ritteri
- Cleistocactus smaragdiflorus
- Cleistocactus strausii (Silver Torch)
- Cleistocactus tominensis
- Cleistocactus varispinus
- Cleistocactus viridiflorus
Notes
- Taxonomic Narrowing: Following molecular studies (Arakaki et al., 2003), Lodé maintains a narrower concept of the genus, excluding Borzicactus and Loxanthocereus.
- Cleistocactus colademononis: Previously suggested for Borzicactus, Lodé confirms this iconic species (Monkey's Tail) belongs in Cleistocactus s.s. as it is native to the Santa Cruz province in Bolivia.
- Floral Syndrome: The tubular "cleistogamous" flower shape is a result of adaptation to hummingbird pollination and has appeared independently in several unrelated lineages of cacti.
