Eriosyce
| Eriosyce | |
|---|---|
| File:Eriosyce aurata.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Notocacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Eriosyce |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé maintains the genus in a strict sense, excluding Neoporteria, Islaya, and Pyrrhocactus. |
Etymology
The name is derived from the Greek erion (wool) and syke (fig), referring to the characteristic woolly fruit of most species in the genus[cite: 1018].
Description
Eriosyce consists of usually large, solitary, globose cacti[cite: 1018].
- Stems: The apex is more or less covered with wool[cite: 1018]. Ribs are numerous (18–42 or more) and usually tuberculate[cite: 1018].
- Roots: Primarily fibrous, though slightly turbiniform in species like E. rodentiophila[cite: 1018].
- Spines: Strongly acicular, sturdy, and typically curved upwards[cite: 1018].
- Flowers: Diurnal and self-sterile, appearing near the apex[cite: 1018]. They are cupulate with erect petals, usually pinkish, reddish, or yellowish[cite: 1018]. Pollination is performed mainly by solitary bees[cite: 1018].
- Fruits: Often setose and densely woolly, with persistent floral remains[cite: 1018].
- Seeds: Relatively large (1.8–3 mm), egg-shaped, black, and slightly pitted[cite: 1018]. Dispersal is carried out by rodents (such as chinchillas) and guanacos[cite: 1018].
Habitat
Eriosyce species grow along the Pacific coast in the Atacama Desert and up into the Andes mountains[cite: 1031]. They thrive in extremely arid environments on purely mineral soils, often among fallen rock masses or in crevices[cite: 1019]. The altitudinal range extends from sea level to approximately 2000 m[cite: 1019].
Distribution
- Chile: Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo[cite: 1019].
Species
According to Lodé (2015), the genus is restricted to 3 recognized species in the strict sense[cite: 1019]:
- Eriosyce aurata (Type species; syn. E. ceratistes, E. sandillon) [cite: 1019]
- Eriosyce rodentiophila [cite: 1019]
- Eriosyce spinibarbis [cite: 1019]
Taxonomy
Lodé rejects the broad classification of Kattermann (1994), which included several distinct genera within Eriosyce[cite: 1018]. Molecular studies (Bárcenas et al., 2011) confirm that Eriosyce sensu lato is not monophyletic[cite: 1018]. Lodé restores Neoporteria and Islaya as separate genera to ensure monophyletic groupings within the tribe Notocacteae[cite: 1019].
