Morangaya

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Morangaya
Echinocereus pensilis 01.jpg
Echinocereus pensilis (synonym of Morangaya pensilis)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Morangaya
G.D.Rowley
Species:
M. pensilis
Binomial name
Morangaya pensilis
(K.Brandegee) G.D.Rowley
Synonyms [2]
  • Cereus pensilisK.Brandegee
  • Echinocereus pensilis(K.Brandegee) J.A.Purpus

Morangaya is a monotypic genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized, cylindrical shaped cacti, that is native to north western Mexico. [3] The only species is Morangaya pensilis. It is found in the mountains and rocky hills. [4]

Contents

Description

It has a mostly clumping form with basally branching vine-like stems. That are at first erect, but then become arching and prostrate or hanging, usually with aerial roots. The stems are cylindrical and taper toward the tips, up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long or more, 2.5–4 cm (1–2 in) in diameter. It has 8 - 10 ribs which are low, rounded and tuberculate (small tuber-like). The areoles are 1–2 cm (0–1 in) spaced apart. The needle-like spines are yellow that turn reddish as they age. It has 1 central spine, 1–2.5 cm (0–1 in) long, with 6 to 10 radials more or less radiating, on young areoles. When the plants are older, they can have up 70 or more radials. The flowers which bloom between April and May, are orange or reddish at the stem tip or on older parts, 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long and 4–5 cm (2–2 in) in diameter. They are tubular to narrowly funnelform in shape. The areoles of the tube and ovary, have white or yellowish wool and chestnut bristly/silky spines. After flowering, it produces a fruits (or seed capsule), which is globose to elongate in shape, spiny, red with red pulp 1.5–2 cm (1–1 in) in diameter. Inside, it contains black and rugose seeds, which are very oblique at base. [5]

Taxonomy

It has the common names of 'snake cactus' and 'pitayita hanging cactus'. [5]

The genus name of Morangaya is in honour of Reid Venable Moran (1916–2010), an American botanist, Edward G. Gay (1916–1997) and Betty Gay (1919–2013) who were experts on the flora of Baja California. [6]

The genus and the species of Morangaya pensilis(K.Brandegee) G.D.Rowley were circumscribed by Gordon Douglas Rowley in Ashingtonia vol.1 on page 44 in 1974. [3]

The name Echinocereus pensilis was first published in Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 18: 5 in 1908 by J.A.Purpus. Morangaya pensilis then became a synonym of the older name. Until it was re-established as a separate species with its own genus, Morangaya. [3] Due to molecular phylogenetic studies in 2015. [7] Also anatomical evidence supported this moment. [8]

Although, it is still named as Echinocereus pensilis in some sources. [5]

Conservation

The species suffers from various damages to its native habit, [9] including fragmentation, illegal collection and trade, and also land use changes, especially to farming and cattle ranching, which have impacts on the habitats. Therefore, it passes the requirements for categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. [10]

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>Bergerocactus</i> Genus of cacti from North America

Bergerocactus emoryi is a species of cactus, known commonly as the golden-spined cereus, golden snake cactus, velvet cactus or golden club cactus. It is a relatively small cactus, but it can form dense thickets or colonies, with the dense yellow spines giving off a velvety appearance when backlit by the sun. From April to May, yellow, green-tinged flowers emerge, which transform into reddish, globular fruit. This species is native to the California Floristic Province, and is found in northwestern Baja California and a small part of California, in San Diego County and on the southern Channel Islands. Where the Mediterranean climate of the California Floristic Province collides with the subtropical Sonoran Desert near El Rosario, hybrids with two other species of cacti are found. It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Bergerocactus, named after German botanist Alwin Berger.

<i>Weberocereus</i> Genus of cacti

Weberocereus is genus of cacti. It produces a green and white flower and is found mainly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

<i>Leptocereus</i> Genus of cacti

Leptocereus is a genus of cacti that are native to the Greater Antilles. It has been placed in the tribe Leptocereeae or in a broadly defined Echinocereeae.

<i>Echinopsis lageniformis</i> Species of plant

Echinopsis lageniformis, synonyms including Echinopsis scopulicola and Trichocereus bridgesii, is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus. Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species such as Trichocereus macrogonus which are also used for their psychedelic effects.

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

Echinocereus engelmannii, the strawberry hedgehog cactus or Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, is a cactus commonly found in desert areas of the southwestern United States and the adjacent areas of Mexico, including the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Baja California and Sonora.

<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>Cylindropuntia echinocarpa</i> Species of cactus

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is a species of cactus known by the common names silver cholla, golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla. It was formerly named Opuntia echinocarpa.

<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>Echinocereus dasyacanthus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus dasyacanthus is a member of the cactus family, Cactaceae. It is one of about 2000 total species belonging to this family. The cactus is commonly known as Texas rainbow cactus because of the subtle rings or bands of contrasting colors along the stem of the plant. Not all Texas rainbow cacti have the "rainbow" coloration on their stems. Another common name is spiny hedgehog cactus.

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

Echinocereus stramineus is a species of cactus, with stramineus meaning made of straw. There are various common names such as strawberry cactus, porcupine hedgehog cactus, straw-color hedgehog, and pitaya. The straw-colored spines distinguishes this particular plant from other Echinocereus. The aged spines may turn white in color and are very fragile.

<i>Leucostele terscheckii</i> Species of plant

Leucostele terscheckii, commonly known as the cardon grande cactus or Argentine saguaro, is a large cactus native to South America and popular in cultivation.

<i>Ferocactus diguetii</i> Tallest species of barrel cactus

Ferocactus diguetii, commonly known as the giant barrel cactus, is the largest species of barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is an insular species endemic to several of Baja California Sur's southern islands in the Gulf of California. As the superlative giant of the barrel cacti, it reaches heights of up to 4 metres (13 ft) and diameters of 1 metre (3.3 ft) in the wild, a result of island gigantism. The species has red flowers that bloom from March to May. Although restricted in range, this species grows in protected habitat and lacks major threats.

<i>Denmoza</i> Species of cactus

Denmoza is a monotypic genus of cacti. Its only species, Denmoza rhodacantha, is native to northwest Argentina.

<i>Soehrensia strigosa</i> Species of cactus

Echinopsis strigosa, is a species of Soehrensia in the cactus family. It is native to north western Argentina. It was first published in Cactaceae Syst. Init. 28: 31 in 2012.

<i>Echinocereus websterianus</i> Species of cactus in Mexico

Echinocereus websterianus, commonly known as the San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus or Webster's hedgehog cactus, is a species of cactus. It is named after American philanthropist Gertrude Webster, who cofounded the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.

<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>Echinocereus barthelowianus</i> Species of cactus

Echinocereus barthelowianus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

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

Echinocereus sciurus is a species of cactus native to Mexico.

Echinocereus santaritensis is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States.

References

  1. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  2. "Morangaya pensilis (K.Brandegee) G.D.Rowley | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Morangaya G.D.Rowley | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. John Pilbeam Cacti for the Connoisseur: A Guide for Growers & Collectors (1987) , p. 100, at Google Books
  5. 1 2 3 "Echinocereus pensilis". www.cactus-art.biz. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. Burkhardt, Lotte (2022). Eine Enzyklopädie zu eponymischen Pflanzennamen [Encyclopedia of eponymic plant names](pdf) (in German). Berlin: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin. doi:10.3372/epolist2022. ISBN   978-3-946292-41-8. S2CID   246307410 . Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. Sánchez, Daniel; Arias, Salvador; Terrazas, Teresa (October 2014). "Phylogenetic Relationships in Echinocereus (Cactaceae, Cactoideae)". Systematic Botany. 39 (4): 1183–1196. doi:10.1600/036364414X683831. S2CID   84505202.
  8. Sánchez, Daniel; Grego-Valencia, Dalia; Terrazas, Teresa; Arias, Salvador (January 2015). "How and why does the areole meristem move in Echinocereus (Cactaceae)?". Annals of Botany. 115 (1): 19–26. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu208 . PMC   4284107 . PMID   25399023.
  9. "Morangaya pensilis, plants for sale • Mondocactus nursery". www.mondocactus.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  10. de la Luz, José Luis León (26 April 2005). "Evaluation of the conservation status of Morangaya pensilis (Cactaceae), a little known endemic monotypic genus of southern Baja California, Mexico". Oryx. 39 (2).