Ancistrocactus
| Ancistrocactus | |
|---|---|
| File:Ancistrocactus brevihamatus.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Ancistrocactus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). The genus is accepted as distinct from Sclerocactus. |
Etymology
The name derives from the Greek ancistron (fishhook) and kaktos (thistle), referring to the strongly hooked central spines.
Description
Ancistrocactus is a genus of small globose to elongated cacti with characteristic hooked spines.
- Habit: Solitary plants, sometimes constricted at the base, often with a taproot.
- Stems: Globose to short cylindrical.
- Ribs: More or less tuberculate; tubercles often bearing nectar glands.
- Spines: One central spine typically hooked, usually the longest and most distinctive.
- Flowers: Diurnal, small, creamy, greenish, yellow or pale pink; self-sterile.
- Fruits: Clavate, fleshy, greenish.
- Seeds: Brown to black, finely papillose.
Habitat
The genus grows in arid environments, on limestone, gypsum, sandy or rocky soils, often among shrubs or grasses.
Altitude range: from about 20 m up to 1700 m.
Distribution
- North America:
Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas), United States (Texas)
Taxonomy
The genus Ancistrocactus was established by Britton & Rose (1923).
Its taxonomic status has been debated, and it has often been included within Sclerocactus. However, molecular studies (Porter et al. 2000; Nyffeler 2002; Butterworth et al. 2002; Hernández-Hernández et al. 2012) indicate that such inclusion would render Sclerocactus polyphyletic.
The genus is closely related to Echinomastus, Glandulicactus, and Toumeya, but remains distinct.
According to Joël Lodé (2015), Ancistrocactus is maintained as a valid genus.
Species
Following the classification of Joël Lodé (2015).
Notes
- Ancistrocactus megarhizus is sometimes treated as a subspecies of A. scheeri.
- The genus is defined by its strongly hooked central spines.
- Represents part of a complex group of closely related genera within Cacteae.
