Leocereus

Leocereus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cereeae
Subtribe:	Cereinae
Genus:	Leocereus Britton & Rose [2]
Species:	L. bahiensis
Binomial name
Leocereus bahiensis Britton & Rose [3]
Synonyms [3]
Of Leocereus_bahiensis: [3] Cereus bahiensisBritton & Rose Leocereus bahiensis subsp. barreirensis(P.J.Braun & Esteves) P.J.Braun & Esteves Leocereus bahiensis subsp. exiguospinus(P.J.Braun & Esteves) P.J.Braun & Esteves Leocereus bahiensis subsp. robustispinus(P.J.Braun & Esteves) P.J.Braun & Esteves Leocereus bahiensis subsp. urandianus(F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves Leocereus estevesiiP.J.Braun Leocereus urandianusF.Ritter

Leocereus is a genus of cactus, containing a single species, Leocereus bahiensis, which was described by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in 1926. ^[2]

Description

Leocereus bahiensis has stems that are long, thin and almost terete. A full adult plant can grow up to 2 meters in length and about 1.5 cm in diameter. They tend to grow like vines. They do not have wool or hairs, but they do have needle-like spines (about 4 cm long, yellowish-brown in color) and felt. In Bahia it is called the "tail of the fox" due to its long, thin bristle-like composition. The flower is white and narrow and within it are hair-like bristle spines. The areoles are circular and closely spaced. The Leocereus bahiensis produces fruit 10 to 12 mm with seeds about 1.5 mm long. ^[4]

Distribution

The cactus is endemic to Brazil. ^[3] It is found growing in the campos rupestres (rocky fields) montane savanna ecoregion of the Atlantic Forest biome.^{[ citation needed ]}

It grows in rocky shady places such as amongst shrubs, or near cliffs and rocks.^{[ citation needed ]}

Conservation

Leocereus bahiensis is being affected by habitat loss, though it has a wide range. The eastern range of the plant is generally regarded as ending up in an area that is not ideal for agricultural growth. The major threat to habitat loss that happens within numerous national parks (Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina, Parque Estadual de Morro Chapeu, Parque Nacional Boqueirão da Onça and Parque Nacional do Rio Parnaiba) is due to industrialization. The western area of its range is most affected by industrial-scale agriculture of soy, Eucalyptus and cotton. ^[1]

Uses

This plant is one of the few cacti that contain caffeine and mescaline. Mescaline is a psychedelic drug that is produced by some cacti.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Machado, M. (2017). "Leocereus bahiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T151744A121506633. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T151744A121506633.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. "Leocereus Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2023-09-30.
3. "Leocereus bahiensis Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2023-09-30.
4. "Carnegie Science".^{[ permanent dead link ]}