Bragaia
| Bragaia | ||||||||||||
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Bragaia estevesii |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Bragaia | ||||||||||||
| Esteves , Hofacker & PJBraun |
Bragaia is a genus of plants fromthe cactus family (Cactaceae). The botanical name of the genus honors the Brazilian cactus lover and explorer Alexander Braga Nascimento. The type species of the so far monotypical genus is Bragaia estevesii .
description
The only species so far, Bragaia estevesii , usually grows weakly branchy, shrubby, upright, slightly woody at the base. The green shoots are cylindrical and up to 4 m long, but usually remain significantly shorter. The shoots have 10–12 blunt ribs and are sometimes densely needle-like, yellowish, brownish thorns. The flowers open at night and are pollinated by bats. They are developed laterally in the upper branch section, are slender, funnel-shaped, slightly scaled, with extra-floral nectar glands, green, yellow to red. The petals are green-white to white. The strong constriction above the pericarpel is striking. The fruit remains small, spherical to slightly oval, 15–19 mm long, 6–8 mm wide, bare berry, with a transparent pulp. The helmet-shaped black seeds are comparatively large at 1.5–1.8 mm.
Distribution and systematics
The genus Bragaia is common in northeastern Brazil . The only species so far grows in the caatinga in a small area in the northwestern state of Bahia .
It was first described as a monotypic genus in 2009 by Eddie Esteves Pereira , Andreas Hofacker and Pierre J. Braun . The relationship of the genus Bragaia is still very unclear. Other authors put the species in spite of great differences to Brasilicereus. In a more recent overview of the Cactaceae the genus is recognized.
The type species of the genus is Bragaia estevesii Hofacker & PJBraun 2009.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Esteves Pereira, E., Hofacker, A. & Braun, PJ 2009: Bragaia estevesii (Cactaceae) - a new genus and species of cacti from Bahia, Brazil. Cact. and. Sukk. 60: 328-333.
- ↑ Taylor, NP & Machado, M. 2011: Brasilicereus estevesii (Hofacker & PJBraun) NP Taylor & M. Machado in Cactaceae Syst. Init. 25: 7 2011.
- ↑ Lode, J. 2015: Taxonomy of the Cactaceae, Vol. I, 24. Bragaia, 118-120. eds. Cactus Adventures, Barcelona
