Haageocereus
| Haageocereus | |
|---|---|
| File:Haageocereus pseudomelanostele.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Trichocereinae |
| Genus | Haageocereus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Lodé maintains Haageocereus as a distinct genus within the Peruvian clade of Trichocereinae. |
Etymology
The genus is named in honor of Walther Haage (1899–1992), a member of the famous German nursery dynasty "Kakteen-Haage" in Erfurt.
Description
Haageocereus consists of shrubby cacti with stems that can be erect, decumbent (lying on the ground), or even prostrate.
- Stems: Columnar, typically branching from the base, with numerous low ribs.
- Spines: Generally very dense and colorful (yellow, red, brown, or white), often making the plants very attractive for cultivation.
- Flowers: Mainly nocturnal (but some remain open during the day), funnel-shaped, and usually white or greenish-white, occasionally pinkish. They feature a long floral tube covered with scales and hairs.
- Fruits: Globose to ovoid, fleshy, and typically reddish or green. They are covered with small scales and tufts of hair.
- Seeds: Small, black, and shiny or matt.
Habitat
The genus is native to the arid coastal deserts and lower Andean slopes of Peru and Northern Chile. They are often found in extremely dry areas where they rely on coastal fogs (garúa) for moisture. Altitudinal range: 0–2500 m.
Distribution
- Peru: Widely distributed along the coast and western slopes.
- Chile: Northern regions (Arica and Parinacota).
Species and Subspecies
Following Lodé (2015), the genus includes 20 species and 6 subspecies:
- Haageocereus acranthus
- Haageocereus albispinus
- Haageocereus australis
- Haageocereus chalaensis
- Haageocereus decumbens
- Haageocereus fascicularis
- Haageocereus fulvus
- Haageocereus icensis
- Haageocereus icosagonoides
- Haageocereus lanugispinus
- Haageocereus limensis
- Haageocereus multangularis
- Haageocereus pacalaensis
- Haageocereus platinospinus
- Haageocereus pseudomelanostele
- Haageocereus pseudoversicolor
- Haageocereus repens
- Haageocereus tenuis
- Haageocereus versicolor
- Haageocereus vulpes
- Haageocereus zangalensis
Taxonomy
The genus is closely related to Loxanthocereus and Cleistocactus. Lodé emphasizes that many species are threatened in the wild due to urban expansion along the Peruvian coast. Recent molecular data suggests that Haageocereus forms a monophyletic group with other North-Peruvian columnar cacti.
