Brasilicereus
| Brasilicereus | |
|---|---|
| File:Brasilicereus phaeacanthus.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cereeae |
| SubTribe | Cereinae |
| Genus | Brasilicereus |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). |
Etymology
The name Brasilicereus means "Wax candle of Brazil", highlighting the geographical origin of this endemic genus.
Description
Brasilicereus is a shrubby genus characterized by slender, cylindrical stems that are either erect or slightly leaning. The stems are sparsely branched and feature narrow ribs. The areoles are woolly, bearing spines that range from bristle-like (setose) to needle-like (aciculate). The root system is fibrous.
The flowers are nocturnal and shaped like short tubes or bells. They are typically whitish to pale green and are adapted for pollination by bats. The fruits are egg-shaped to pear-shaped, indehiscent (do not split open at maturity), and retain the persistent remains of the dried flower. The seeds are black, smooth, and shiny.
Habitat
The genus grows in subtropical or tropical dry deciduous forests, often seeking protection within the surrounding vegetation. It frequently occurs on granite or gneiss inselbergs (rocky outcrops) at altitudes ranging from 40 m to 950 m.
Distribution
- Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais)
Species
According to the Joël Lodé index, there are currently 2 recognized species:
Notes
- Historically, the genus was temporarily included in Monvillea and Cereus, but was reinstated as Brasilicereus in 1990 by the International Cactaceae Systematics Group.
- It differs from Cereus by its scaly pericarpel, stamens inserted in two series, and the fact that its floral parts do not turn black upon drying.
- Some researchers (Taylor & Zappi) suggest it may represent a basal branch of the tribe Cereeae.
- There are reports of possible natural hybrids between Brasilicereus and Pilosocereus.
- While some authors include the genus Bragaia here, Joël Lodé maintains them as separate pending further molecular data.
