Cephalocereus polylophus

Last updated

Cephalocereus polylophus
Neobuxbaumia polylopha (3644603939).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Cephalocereus
Species:
C. polylophus
Binomial name
Cephalocereus polylophus
(DC.) Britton & Rose
Synonyms
  • Carnegiea polylopha(DC.) D.R.Hunt
  • Carnegiea polylopha(DC.) P.V.Heath
  • Cereus polylophusDC.
  • Neobuxbaumia polylopha(DC.) Backeb.
  • Pilocereus polylophus(DC.) Salm-Dyck

Cephalocereus polylophus is a species of cactus endemic to Mexico. [2] Often grown under the synonym Neobuxbaumia polylopha, it is popular with cactus growers and reproduces well in cultivation. [3]

Contents

Description

Cephalocereus polylophus grows individually and reaches heights of up to 13 m (43 ft) or even 15 m (49 ft) and can grow to weigh many tons. [3] The columnar shoots are initially light green and become darker with age. They have diameters of up to 50 cm (1 ft 8 in). The 22 to 36 (rarely from 10) narrow, slightly curved ribs are separated from each other by a sharp furrow. The single, flexible central spine, which can also be missing, is often shorter than the seven to eight marginal spines. The marginal spines are flexible and 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long. They are yellowish to brownish and turn gray with age. [4]

The flowers usually appear in groups near the tips of the shoots. They are dark red, 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) long and reach a diameter of 30 to 35 mm (1.2 to 1.4 in). Its pericarpel and floral tube are covered with fairly large tubercles and small scales that are glabrous in the axillae. The egg-shaped, green fruits are 24 to 40 mm (0.9 to 1.6 in) long and covered with scales, wool and bristles. [4] The fruits are edible by humans and have a delicate, nutty flavor. [3]

Taxonomy

The first description as Cereus polylophus was published in 1828 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. [2] [5] The specific epithet polylophus is derived from the Greek words poly for 'many' and lophos for 'crest', [6] referring to the numerous ribs of the species. Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Cephalocereus in 1909. Further nomenclature synonyms are Pilocereus polylophus, Neobuxbaumia polylopha, and Carnegiea polylopha. [2]

Distribution

Cephalocereus polylophus is native to the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato and San Luis Potosí. [7]

Conservation

Neobuxbaumia polylopha was assessed as "vulnerable" in the 2009 IUCN Red List, where it is said to be native only to the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Querétaro and Guanajuato. [1] As of April 2023, N. polylopha was regarded as a synonym of Cephalocereus polylophus, which Plants of the World Online gives a somewhat wider distribution. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ferocactus glaucescens</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus glaucescens, the glaucous barrel cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native endemic to México.

<i>Ferocactus echidne</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus echidne is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is found in nature in Mexico. This cactus is known commonly as Sonora barrel, Coville's barrel cactus, Emory's barrel cactus, and traveler's friend. This plant is often sold as a houseplant.

<i>Lophocereus marginatus</i> Species of cactus

Lophocereus marginatus is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is sometimes called Mexican fencepost cactus.

<i>Ferocactus latispinus</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus latispinus is a species of barrel cactus native to Mexico.

<i>Cereus</i> (plant) Genus of cacti

Cereus ( "serious") is a genus of cacti including around 33 species of large columnar cacti from South America. The name is derived from Greek (κηρός) and Latin words meaning "wax", "torch" or "candle". Cereus was one of the first cactus genera to be described; the circumscription varies depending on the authority. The term "cereus" is also sometimes used for a ceroid cactus, any cactus with a very elongated body, including columnar growth cacti and epiphytic cacti.

<i>Lophocereus schottii</i> Species of cactus

Lophocereus schottii, the senita cactus, is a species of cactus from southern Arizona and north-western Mexico, particularly Baja California and Sonora.

<i>Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum</i> Species of cactus

Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum is a columnar cactus plant native to Mexico. They can grow up to 15 m (49 ft) high. The trunk of this species is 1.2 to 5.0 m tall and the fruits are large and burr-like. The specific name, pecten-aboriginum, is from the Latin, and means "native combs". It was inspired by the use of the fruits as hair combs.

<i>Cereus jamacaru</i> Species of cactus

Cereus jamacaru, known as mandacaru or cardeiro, is a cactus native to central and eastern Brazil. It often grows up to 6 metres high.

<i>Echinocereus pentalophus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus pentalophus, with the common name ladyfinger cactus, is a species of Echinocereus cactus, in the tribe Echinocereeae Tribe. It is native to North America.

<i>Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii</i> Species of cactus

Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae.

<i>Ferocactus histrix</i> Species of cactus

Ferocactus histrix, also known as Acitrón barrel cactus is a species of Ferocactus native to central Mexico. It is a large barrel cactus that can be commonly found throughout all the Central Mexican matorral. It produces an edible fruit appreciated for its sour taste.

<i>Myrtillocactus cochal</i> Species of plant

Myrtillocactus cochal, the cochal or candelabra cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to the Baja California peninsula. Individuals can reach 3 m (10 ft), and are hardy to USDA zone 9b.

<i>Cephalocereus macrocephalus</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus macrocephalus, synonym Neobuxbaumia macrocephala, is a species of cactus endemic to Mexico.

<i>Cephalocereus columna-trajani</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus columna-trajani is a species of cactus from Mexico.

<i>Cephalocereus euphorbioides</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus euphorbioides is a species of Cephalocereus from Mexico.

<i>Cephalocereus mezcalaensis</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus mezcalaensis is a species of Cephalocereus from Mexico.

<i>Cephalocereus tetetzo</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus tetetzo is a species of cactus from Mexico.

<i>Cephalocereus scoparius</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus scoparius is a species of Cephalocereus from Mexico.

<i>Borzicactus sepium</i> Species of cactus

Borzicactus sepium is a species of Borzicactus found in Ecuador.

<i>Echinocereus cinerascens</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus cinerascens is a species of cactus native from Texas to Mexico.

References

  1. 1 2 Succulent Plants Specialist Group (2009-11-17). "Neobuxbaumia polylopha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cephalocereus polylophus (DC.) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  3. 1 2 3 Yetman, David (2007). The Great Cacti. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 6,35,43,137,142–143. ISBN   978-0-8165-2431-0.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 439. ISBN   3-8001-4573-1.
  5. de Candolle, A.P. (1828). "Cereus". Mémoires du Muséum d'histoire naturelle. Vol. 17. G. Dufour. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  6. Liddell & Scott (1940). "λόφος". A Greek–English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  7. "On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family". On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family. Retrieved 2023-11-05.