Facheiroa
| Facheiroa | |
|---|---|
| File:Facheiroa ulei.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Cereinae |
| Genus | Facheiroa |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé includes Zehntnerella as a subgenus and places Facheiroa in the subtribe Cereinae. |
Etymology
The name is derived from "Facheiro," a common vernacular name used in Brazil for several different columnar cacti, including species of Arrojadoa and Pilosocereus.
Description
Facheiroa consists of shrubby or tree-like cacti, characterized by dense branching and the presence of a lateral cephalium in most species.
- Stems: Erect, columnar, and ascending stems featuring 12–25 narrow ribs with close-set areoles.
- Cephalium: A lateral cephalium develops on adult reproductive branches, consisting of dense wool where flowers emerge (except in F. squamosa).
- Flowers: Nocturnal and self-sterile. They are tubular with a short floral tube covered in overlapping scales and often hairs. Colors range from pinkish-white to red.
- Fruits: Globose, translucent, and fleshy with a juicy pulp. They are indehiscent and retain dried perianth remains.
- Seeds: Tuberculate to almost smooth, covered in a mucilage envelope.
Habitat
The genus is endemic to the mountains of northern Brazil, growing at altitudes between 370 m and over 1000 m[cite: 1031]. It is typically found on limestone formations (Bambuí formation) or steep cliffs within the caatinga vegetation[cite: 1031].
Distribution
- Brazil: Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, and Piauí[cite: 1031].
Species
Following Lodé (2015), the genus includes 7 recognized species:
- Facheiroa braunii [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa cephaliomelana [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa estevesii [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa pilosa [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa squamosa (formerly Zehntnerella) [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa tenebrosa [cite: 1031]
- Facheiroa ulei [cite: 1031]
Taxonomy
Molecular studies (Machado et al., 2006) demonstrated that the tribe Cereinae becomes monophyletic if genera such as Facheiroa, Espostoopsis, and Discocactus are included. Lodé considers Facheiroa to be closely related to Espostoa and Vatricania[cite: 1031].
