Lagenosocereus

Lagenosocereus
File:Lagenosocereus luetzelburgii.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Cereeae
SubTribe	Cereinae
Genus	Lagenosocereus
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). A monotypic genus endemic to Brazil, distinct from Pilosocereus.

Etymology

The name is derived from the Latin lagena (bottle) and cereus (wax candle), referring to the characteristic bottle-shaped swelling of the stems.

Description

Lagenosocereus is a monotypic genus consisting of a shrubby, often solitary cactus with a very distinctive growth habit.

• Stems: Erect, reaching 1 to 1.5 meters in height. The base is often narrow, but the middle part of the stem becomes significantly swollen (bottle-shaped) before tapering again toward the apex.
• Ribs: Numerous (13 to 18), low and rounded.
• Spines: Dense, needle-like, and relatively short. They are usually golden-yellow to brownish, turning grey with age.
• Flowers: Nocturnal, appearing near the apex from a slightly modified fertile zone (not a true cephalium). They are tubular-funnelform, brownish-green on the outside and white inside.
• Fruits: Globose, fleshy, and dark blue to purplish with a glaucous (waxy) coating. They are indehiscent.
• Seeds: Small, black, and shiny.

Habitat

The genus grows on rocky outcrops (campos rupestres) and sandy soils within the Caatinga biome. It is often found among shrubs and grasses at altitudes between 400 m and 1100 m.

Distribution

• Brazil: Endemic to the state of Bahia (specifically the Chapada Diamantina region).

Species

Following the classification of Lodé (2015), the genus contains only one species:

• Lagenosocereus luetzelburgii (Type species)

Taxonomy

Originally described by Friedrich Ritter, it was long included in Pilosocereus (as P. luetzelburgii). However, Lodé maintains it as a separate genus based on its unique "bottle" morphology, the absence of a true lateral cephalium, and specific seed characters that distinguish it from the rest of the subtribe Cereinae.