Pseudoacanthocereus
| Pseudoacanthocereus | |
|---|---|
| File:Pseudoacanthocereus brasiliensis.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Phyllocacteae |
| SubTribe | Echinocereinae |
| Genus | Pseudoacanthocereus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Ritter (1979), Hunt & Taylor (1992), and Anderson (2001). |
Etymology
The name means "false Acanthocereus", referring to its superficial resemblance to that genus.
Description
Pseudoacanthocereus is a genus of low-growing, shrubby cacti with slender, climbing stems.
- Habit: Bushy; strongly branched; initially erect, later arching or pendulous.
- Stems: Slender; with 2–8 ribs; well-defined but variable.
- Areoles: Small; brownish.
- Spines: Short; acicular.
- Flowers: Nocturnal; self-sterile; strongly fragrant.
- Flower shape: Funnel-shaped with long floral tube.
- Flower color: White.
- Pollination: By sphingid moths (Sphingidae).
- Fruits: Globose; fleshy; indehiscent; pale yellow; strongly fragrant (pineapple-like).
- Fruit traits: Spines deciduous at maturity.
- Seeds: Large; flattened; pale brown; slightly striate.
- Seed dispersal: By animals, including peccaries (e.g. Tayassu pecari).
Habitat
Occurs in tropical dry environments:
- caatinga (Brazil)
- subtropical dry forests
- scrublands
- often growing in shade
- supported by surrounding vegetation
Altitude range: approximately 300–400 m.
Distribution
South America:
- Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Sergipe)
- Colombia
- Venezuela (Falcón, Lara, Zulia)
Notably disjunct distribution (~4000 km between populations).
Taxonomy
A small and poorly understood genus with notable disjunction.
Key points:
- Described by Ritter (1979) from Acanthocereus-like taxa
- Distinguished mainly by fruit and seed morphology
- Accepted by Hunt & Taylor (1992) and Anderson (2001)
- Two geographically distant species suggest possible hidden diversity or historical distribution
The genus is accepted as distinct in Lodé (2015).
⚠️ Modern molecular studies (e.g. Korotkova et al., 2017) suggest that the species of this genus are closely related to Strophocactus and have been transferred there in recent classifications :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. However, this treatment is not followed here.
Species
According to Joël Lodé (2015):
Notes
- Must not be confused with Pseudoacanthocereus subgenus (Sánchez-Mejorada, 1974) within Acanthocereus.
- Shows strong morphological similarity to Acanthocereus, but differs in reproductive traits.
- Displays one of the most striking disjunctions in Cactaceae.
- Likely requires further molecular study to confirm evolutionary relationships.
- Represents a transitional morphological type between climbing and shrubby cacti.
