Cephalocereus
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| Whistle. |
Cephalocereus is a genus of plants from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The botanical name of the genus is derived from the Greek noun "κεφαλή" (chephale) for head and means heady Cereus .
description
The columnar and upright growing species of the genus Cephalocereus are branched or not branched and reach heights of growth of 10 to 12 meters. The light green shoots , which turn gray with age, have a diameter of up to 40 centimeters and are almost completely covered by dense thorns near the tip . Dimorphic areoles are closely spaced on the 12 to 30 (or more) vertical ribs . The up to 5 central spines are yellowish to gray and up to 4 centimeters long. The numerous, bristly or hair-like radial spines usually envelop the shoot tightly.
The medium-sized, tubular to bell-shaped flowers arise from a pseudocephalium and open at night. The flower cup and the flower tube are covered with small scales.
The egg-shaped fruits have small scales, are covered with wool and have a persistent flower remnant. The smooth, pear-shaped seeds are black.
Systematics and distribution
The species of the genus Cephalocereus are distributed in southern Mexico in the states of Puebla , Oaxaca , Hidalgo and Guanajuato , where they often form dense forests.
The first description of the genus was made in 1838 by Ludwig Georg Karl Pfeiffer . The type species of the genus is Cactus senilis . The genus includes the following species:
- Cephalocereus apicicephalium E.Y.Dawson
- Cephalocereus columna-trajani (Karw. Ex Pfeiff.) K.Schum.
- Cephalocereus nizandensis (Bravo & T.MacDoug.) Buxb.
- Cephalocereus senilis (Haw.) Whistle.
- Cephalocereus totolapensis (Bravo & T.MacDoug.) Buxb.
Synonyms of the genus are Cephalophorus Lem. , Haseltonia Backeb. and Neodawsonia Backeb.
proof
Individual evidence
- ↑ Dr. Pfeiffer: About Lemaire's description of some new cacti . In: General garden newspaper . Volume 6, number 18, 1838, p. 142 ( online ).
- ^ Edward F. Anderson : The great cactus lexicon . Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8001-4573-1 , p. 99-101 .
literature
- Edward F. Anderson : The Great Cactus Lexicon . Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8001-4573-1 , p. 99-101 .
further reading
- Héctor J. Tapia, María Luisa Bárcenas-Argüello, Teresa Terrazas, Salvador Arias: Phylogeny and Circumscription of Cephalocereus (Cactaceae) Based on Molecular and Morphological Evidence . In: Systematic Botany Volume 42, Number 4, 2017, pp. 709-723 ( doi: 10.1600 / 036364417X696546 ).
