Strophocactus
From M&J Cactus Wiki
| Strophocactus | |
|---|---|
| File:Strophocactus wittii.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Phyllocacteae |
| SubTribe | Echinocereinae |
| Genus | Strophocactus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with reference to Bauer (2003), Nyffeler & Eggli (2010), and Hunt et al. (2006). |
Etymology
The name means "wrapped cactus", referring to species that cling to and wrap around trees.
Description
Strophocactus is a genus of epiphytic or epilithic, climbing cacti with highly specialized adaptations.
- Habit: Climbing or pendulous; epiphytic or epilithic.
- Growth form: Polymorphic; stems appressed to substrates.
- Stems: Segmented; flattened or angled; often adhering to trunks, branches, or rocks.
- Roots: Aerial roots used for attachment.
- Areoles: Woolly; bearing strong spines.
- Flowers: Nocturnal; self-sterile; strongly fragrant to unpleasant.
- Flower shape: Funnel-shaped with very long floral tube.
- Flower color: Pure white.
- Floral structures: Tube scaly and hairy.
- Pollination: By sphingid moths (Sphingidae).
- Fruits: Globose; spiny; yellow, greenish or red; with persistent perianth remains.
- Seeds: Obovoid; light brown; smooth; sometimes with air-filled structures for flotation.
- Seed dispersal: By water (hydrochory), especially in flood-prone habitats.
Habitat
Occurs in humid tropical environments:
- rainforests and riverine systems
- swampy or seasonally flooded areas
- mangroves and riparian vegetation
- rocky substrates in humid zones
Altitude range: from sea level up to ~1100 m.
Distribution
Central and South America:
- Mexico (multiple states)
- Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama)
- South America (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru)
Taxonomy
A genus with complex redefinition based on molecular and morphological data.
Key points:
- Originally included species from Selenicereus, Disocactus, Nyctocereus, and Deamia
- Bauer (2003): reassigned several taxa to Strophocactus
- Molecular studies (Nyffeler & Eggli, 2010) support placement in Echinocereinae
- Cryptocereus anthonyanus excluded as separate genus
- Some species show significant morphological divergence, suggesting possible future reclassification
The genus is accepted as distinct in Lodé (2015).
Species
According to Joël Lodé (2015):
Notes
- Includes one of the very few myrmecophilous cacti (S. testudo), hosting ant colonies.
- S. wittii adapted to flooded environments; seeds capable of floating.
- Represents extreme ecological specialization within Cactaceae.
- Strong example of convergence with other epiphytic plant families.
- May represent multiple evolutionary lineages within current circumscription.
