Opuntia quimilo
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Opuntia quimilo with fruits |
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| K. Schum. |
Opuntia quimilo is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). Thespecific epithet quimilo is derived from the common name "Quimilo", which the locals use to describe the species. Opuntia quimilo is one of the few species within the cactus family that forms female and hermaphrodite flowers at the same time ( gynomonomy ).
description
Opuntia quimilo grows like a tree with many branches, a clearly recognizable trunk and reaches a height of up to 4 meters. The large, elliptical to elongated shoot sections are glossy gray-green. They are up to 50 inches long, 25 inches wide and 2 to 3 inches thick. The areoles are large and distinctive. The stiff, spreading spine (sometimes two to three are present) is white, straight or twisted, and between 7 and 15 centimeters long.
The red flowers reach a diameter of up to 7 centimeters. The pear-shaped to spherical fruits are greenish yellow and 5 to 7 centimeters long.
pollination
Bees of the genera Arhysosage , Augochloropsis , Megachile , Lithurgus , Xylocopa , Tetrapedia , Melipona and the species Ptilothrix tricolor , Diadasia patagonica , Bombus morio , Apis mellifera and Polybia ignobilis were observed as pollinators of the flowers . Furthermore, the hummingbirds blue- bearded hummingbird ( Heliomaster furcifer ) and gold-bellied emerald hummingbird ( Chlorostilbon lucidus ) contribute to pollination.
Distribution, systematics and endangerment
Opuntia quimilo is common in the north of Argentina and Bolivia at altitudes of 500 to 1000 meters. The first description was published in 1898 by Karl Moritz Schumann . Synonyms are Platyopuntia quimilo and Opuntia distans .
In the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN , the species is listed as " Least Concern (LC) ". H. listed as not endangered. The development of the population is seen as increasing.
proof
literature
- Opuntia quimilo . In: Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press, Portland (Oregon) 2001, ISBN 0-88192-498-9 , p. 515.
- Opuntia quimilo Schumann In: NL Britton , JN Rose : The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . Washington 1919, Volume 1, pp. 190 f.
- Opuntia quimilo K.Sch. In: Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd Edition. Volume 1, 1982, ISBN 3-437-30380-5 , p. 396.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b L. Díaz, AA Cocucci: Functional Gynodioecy in Opuntia quimilo (Cactaceae), a Tree Cactus Pollinated by Bees and Hummingbirds . In: Plant Biology . Volume 5, Number 5, pp. 531-539 ( doi: 10.1055 / s-2003-44783 ).
- ^ Karl Moritz Schumann: Complete description of the cacti . 1898, p. 746 ( online ).
- ↑ Opuntia quimilo in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Listed by: Oakley, L. & Pin, A., 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
