Leptocereus grantianus

Last updated

Leptocereus grantianus
Leptocereus grantianus.jpg
Leptocereus grantianus flower.jpg
Leptocereus grantianus flower
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Leptocereus
Species:
L. grantianus
Binomial name
Leptocereus grantianus

Leptocereus grantianus (sebucan) is a sprawling or suberect, nearly spineless cactus, reaching up to 2 meters in height and 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Its elongated stems have from three to five prominent ribs with broadly scalloped edges. Ribs of young joints are thin, and the small areoles or spine-bearing areas may bear from one to three minute, nearly black spines which disappear as the joints grow older. The flowers are solitary at terminal areoles, from 3 to 6 centimeters long, and nocturnal. The outer perianth segments are linear, green, and tipped by an areole like those of the tube and ovary. The inner perianth segments are numerous, cream-colored, oblong-obvate, obtuse, and about 8 millimeters long. The fruit is subglobose to ellipsoid and about 4 centimeters in diameter.

Contents

Habitat

Leptocereus grantianus is endemic to the island of Culebra which is located just off the northeastern corner of Puerto Rico. Only one population, consisting of approximately 50 individuals, occurs along the rocky coast near Punta Melones. It is found in the subtropical dry forest life zone in dry thickets which grow on a crumbling rock substrate on a steep bank just above the shoreline. Associated species include the sea grape ( Coccoloba uvifera ) and almacigo ( Bursera simaruba ).

Status

L. grantianus is an endangered species. It is federally listed by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service with an endangered status. Historically, deforestation and selective cutting for agriculture, grazing, production of charcoal, and the cutting of wood for construction materials have affected dry forest vegetation. Currently, the island of Culebra is subject to intense pressure for residential and tourist development. Land adjacent to the population is currently proposed for the development of a housing project. Its ornamental potential may result in take becoming a problem in the future. The steep rocky banks are unstable and located close to the shoreline; therefore, natural events, such as hurricanes, might result in the complete elimination of the only known population.

Related Research Articles

<i>Echinocereus</i> Genus of plants

Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized, cylindrical shaped cacti, comprising about 70 species native to the southern United States and Mexico in very sunny, rocky places. Usually the flowers are large and the fruit edible.

<i>Cleistocactus strausii</i> Species of cactus

Cleistocactus strausii, the silver torch or wooly torch, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is native to mountainous regions of Department Tarija, Bolivia, at 1,500–3,000 m (4,921–9,843 ft).

<i>Neoraimondia</i> Genus of cacti

Neoraimondia is a genus of medium to large cacti from Peru. The genus is named after the Italian-born Peruvian explorer, naturalist, and scientist, Antonio Raimondi.

<i>Brasiliopuntia</i> Genus of plants

Brasiliopuntia is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. It contains only one species, Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis.

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

Echinocereus reichenbachii is a perennial plant and shrub in the cactus family. The species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert and parts of northern Mexico and the southern United States, where they grow at elevations up to 1,500 meters (4,900 ft). This cactus earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Ariocarpus agavoides</i> Species of cactus

Ariocarpus agavoides is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Mexico. It grows in dry shrubland in rocky calcareous substrates. Some taxonomists place it in a separate genus as Neogomezia agavoides. The locals use the slime from the roots of the plants as glue to repair pottery. The sweet-tasting warts are eaten and often added to salads

<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>Coryphantha ramillosa</i> Species of cactus

Coryphantha ramillosa is a rare species of cactus known by the common names bunched cory cactus and whiskerbush. It is native to the border region between Texas in the United States and Coahuila in Mexico. Because it was believed to be rare and threatened by a number of processes, it was federally listed as a threatened species of the United States in 1979.

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

Echinocereus fendleri is a species of cactus known by the common names pinkflower hedgehog cactus and Fendler's hedgehog cactus. It is named in honor of Augustus Fendler.

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

Echinocereus viridiflorus is a species of cactus known by the common names nylon hedgehog cactus, green pitaya, and small-flowered hedgehog cactus. It is native to the central and south-central United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in varied habitat types, including desert scrub, woodlands, dry grasslands, and short-grass prairie.

<i>Pilosocereus robinii</i> Species of cactus

Pilosocereus robinii is a species of cactus known by the common name Key tree-cactus. It is native to the Florida Keys in the United States. It also occurs in Western Cuba and the Northern Bahamas. It has been erroneously reported from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Mexico. It is a rare species which is threatened by the loss of its habitat. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.

<i>Gymnocalycium spegazzinii</i> Species of cactus

Gymnocalycium spegazzinii is a species of Gymnocalycium from Argentina and Bolivia named after the botanist C. L. Spegazzini.

<i>Echinopsis haematantha</i> Species of cactus

Echinopsis haematantha, is a species of Echinopsis found in Argentina and Bolivia.

<i>Lobivia pampana</i> Species of plant

Lobivia pampana is a species of Lobivia found in Peru.

<i>Mirabella albicaulis</i> Species of flowering plant

Mirabella albicaulis, synonym Cereus albicaulis, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to Northeast and Southeast Brazil. It was first described by Britton and Rose in 1920 as Acanthocereus albicaulis.

<i>Neoraimondia arequipensis</i> Species of plant

Neoraimondia arequipensis, synonym Neoraimondia macrostibas, is a tree-like cactus native to western Peru. It was first described in 1835 as Cereus arequipensis.

<i>Browningia hertlingiana</i> Species of cactus

Browningia hertlingiana is a species of Browningia found in Peru.

<i>Oreocereus leucotrichus</i> Species of cactus

Oreocereus leucotrichus is a species of cactus native to Peru and Chile.

<i>Cipocereus crassisepalus</i> Species of cactus

Cipocereus crassisepalus is a species of cactus endemic to the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

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

Borzicactus sepium is a species of Borzicactus found in Ecuador.

References

  1. Taylor, N.P. (2013). "Leptocereus grantianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T152095A596656. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152095A596656.en . Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. "No common name (Leptocereus grantianus)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. Silander, Susan; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1993). "Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; endangered status for the cactus Leptocereus grantianus". Federal Register. 58 (37): 11550–11552. 58 FR 11550