Mitrocereus

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Mitrocereus
Pachycereus militaris 0zz.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Echinocereeae
Genus: Mitrocereus
(Backeb.) Backeb.
Species:
M. militaris
Binomial name
Mitrocereus militaris
(Audot) Bravo
Synonyms
List
  • For Mitrocereus
    • BackebergiaBravo

    For Mitrocereus militaris

    • Backebergia militaris(Audot) Bravo ex Sánchez-Mej. 1973
    • Cephalocereus militaris(Audot) H.E.Moore 1975
    • Cereus militarisAudot 1846
    • Pachycereus militaris(Audot) D.R.Hunt 1987
    • Backebergia chrysomallus(Lem.) Bravo 1954
    • Cephalocereus chrysomallus(Lem.) K.Schum. 1894
    • Cereus chrysomallus(Lem.) Lem. 1853
    • Cereus militaris var. californicusK.Schum. 1897
    • Mitrocereus chrysomallus(Lem.) Backeb. 1942
    • Pachycereus chrysomallus(Lem.) Britton & Rose 1909
    • Pilocereus chrysomallusLem. 1847
    • Pilocereus militarisSalm-Dyck 1850

Mitrocereus is a monotypic genus of cacti. Its sole species is Mitrocereus militaris, native to Mexico. [2]

Contents

Description

Mitrocereus militaris is a tree-shaped cactus with initially single greyish-green columnar shoots that later branch out, reaching heights of 12 to 15 meters and crown diameters of up to 5 meters. The stems have 11 to 14 ribs with areoles close together, covered with short wool and white woolly hairs. Areoles typically have 3 to 4 protruding, yellowish to brownish central spines over 10 cm (3.9 in) long, and 10 to 12 radial spines that are flexible, bristle-like, and 1.5 to 4 cm (0.59 to 1.57 in) long. At the tips of the shoots, a cap-shaped pseudocephalium made of yellowish-brown wool develops, which can be up to 30 cm (12 in) long with a diameter of up to 20 cm (7.9 in).

The flowers, which open at night, appear laterally from the pseudocephalium. They are reddish to cream-colored, 5 cm (2.0 in) long, and reach a diameter of 3.5 to 4 cm (1.4 to 1.6 in). The pericarpel and flower tube are covered with small scales, tufts of wool, and bristles. The elongated fruits are fleshy and become dry when ripe, covered with scales, bristles, and long tufts of woolly hair. [3]

Distribution

Mitrocereus militaris is distributed in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima at elevations of 100 to 600 meters. [4]

Taxonomy

The plant, first described as Cereus militaris in 1845 by N. Audot, derives its specific epithet militaris from Latin, meaning military or army, referring to the terminal pseudocephalium resembling a soldier's cap. [5] David Richard Hunt placed the species in the genus Pachycereus in 1987. [6] It is commonly known as Golden Fleece, Military Cap, and Teddy-Bear Cactus. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Leocereus</i> Genus of cacti

Leocereus is a genus of cactus. Its only species is Leocereus bahiensis, first described by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in 1926.

<i>Selenicereus grandiflorus</i> Species of nocturnal cactus native to Central America and the Caribbean

Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as queen of the night, night-blooming cereus, large-flowered cactus, sweet-scented cactus or vanilla cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation. Most of the plants under this name belong to other species or hybrids. It is often confused with the genus Epiphyllum.

<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>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. Ultramafic soils facilitate the endemism of plant species and are often associated with their distribution.

<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>Parodia ottonis</i> Species of cactus

Parodia ottonis, also known as Indian head cactus, is a cactus found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. There are two recognized subspecies. The epithet ottonis honors the German botanist Christoph Friedrich Otto.

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

Ferocactus flavovirens is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico.

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

Ferocactus gracilis, the fire barrel cactus, is a species of Ferocactus from Northwestern Mexico. This cactus gets its common name from the striking red coloration of its defensive spines and flowers.

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

Ferocactus pottsii is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico. The specific epithet has also been spelt pottsi.

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

Neoraimondia herzogiana is a tree-like cactus native to Bolivia.

<i>Haageocereus pseudomelanostele</i> Species of cactus

Haageocereus pseudomelanostele is a species of Haageocereus found in Peru.

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

Browningia hertlingiana is a species of Browningia found in Peru.

<i>Pachycereus weberi</i> Species of cactus

Pachycereus weberi is a columnar cactus plant native to Mexico.

<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 tetetzo</i> Species of cactus

Cephalocereus tetetzo is a species of cactus from Mexico.

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

Lophocereus gatesii is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae.

<i>Cochemiea poselgeri</i> Species of cactus

Cochemiea poselgeri is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico

<i>Cochemiea albicans</i> Species of cactus

Cochemiea albicans is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Mitrocereus militaris (Audot) Bravo". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 491–492. ISBN   3-8001-4573-1.
  4. ↑ "Pachycereus militaris". LLIFLE. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  5. ↑ "Revue horticole". Librairie agricole de la maison rustique. 1845. ISSN   0035-3302 . Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ↑ Hunt, David; Taylor, Nigel (1987). "New and unfamiliar names of Cactaceae to be used in the European Garden Flora". Bradleya. 5 (5): 91–94. doi:10.25223/brad.n5.1987.a5. ISSN   0265-086X.
  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 2024-03-31.
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