Weberbauerocereus

Weberbauerocereus
File:Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Cereeae
SubTribe	Trichocereinae
Genus	Weberbauerocereus
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with molecular insights from Arakaki (2002, 2003, 2008) and Schlumpberger (2012).

Etymology

Named in honour of August Weberbauer (1871–1948), German botanist and director of the botanical gardens of Lima.

Description

Weberbauerocereus is a genus of shrubby to arborescent columnar cacti adapted to Andean environments.

• Habit: Shrubby to tree-like; branching from or near the base, sometimes forming a trunk.
• Stems: Columnar; branches erect, curved or intermingled.
• Ribs: 8–25, variable.
• Areoles: Close-set, large, woolly; white, grey or yellowish.
• Spines: Numerous (20–60 radials), setose to aciculate; central spines stronger when present.
• Flowers: Nocturnal, remaining open into the morning; tubular to funnel-shaped, slightly zygomorphic.
• Floral tube: Often curved (S-shaped), with scales, hairs and bristles.
• Colour: Whitish to brownish or reddish.
• Pollination: By bats (e.g. Glossophaga soricina, Platalina genovensium), hummingbirds and bees.
• Fruits: Small, yellow-orange to reddish; slightly hairy; pulp white.
• Seeds: Small, numerous, black, shiny.
• Dispersal: Mainly by bats (limited efficiency).

Habitat

Typically found in Andean environments:

• high valleys and slopes (often north-facing)
• rocky terrain and cliffs
• areas with frequent fog and humidity
• tropical dry forests (Bolivia – W. madidiensis)

Altitude range: approximately 540–3500 m.

Distribution

South America:

• Bolivia (La Paz)
• Peru (Ancash, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cuzco, Huancavelica, Ica, La Libertad, Lima, Moquegua)

Taxonomy

The genus has historically been difficult to delimit.

Key points:

• Morphological affinity with Cleistocactus (Backeberg; confirmed by Arakaki)
• Arakaki (2002–2008): demonstrated monophyly and clarified relationships
• Closely related to Cleistocactus and Yungasocereus
• Schlumpberger (2012): placed within a "Cleistocactus clade" including

 Vatricania, Samaipaticereus, Weberbauerocereus and others  

Additional notes:

• Weberbauerocereus was long thought endemic to Peru
• Discovery of W. madidiensis (2010) extended distribution into Bolivia
• Several historical misidentifications (e.g. confusion with Haageocereus fascicularis)

The genus is currently accepted as distinct.

Species

Following Joël Lodé (2015):

• Weberbauerocereus albus
• Weberbauerocereus cephalomacrostibas
• Weberbauerocereus churinensis
• Weberbauerocereus cuzcoensis
• Weberbauerocereus madidiensis
• Weberbauerocereus rauhii
• Weberbauerocereus torataensis
• Weberbauerocereus weberbaueri
• Weberbauerocereus winterianus

Notes

• Closely allied to Cleistocactus, sharing multiple morphological traits.
• Displays mixed pollination strategies (chiropterophily + ornithophily).
• Taxonomy clarified significantly through molecular studies.
• Historical confusion with Haageocereus persists in collections.