Cereus (genus)

Cereus repandus

Cereus is a genus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name (from the Latin cera for wax or candle) plays both the elongated, " straight-up " rung of the known at the time of naming species as well as the formerly common name " torch thistles " for cacti to.

Description

Cerei form small shrubs with prostrate or erect, basal branching shoots and up to 15 m tall trees with large crowns, with almost all kinds of transitional forms are represented. The (sometimes three) four to ten ribs are usually large and set wide apart. The standing on the ribs areoles are tomentose to woolly, rarely more hairy and usually carry relatively few, short and sharp thorns.

The springing from the areoles flowers are funnel-shaped and up to 20 cm tall. Open depending on the adaptation to pollinators during the day ( in birds ) or at night (when Fledertieren ). The inner bracts are usually white to off-white, rarely yellow or pink, the outer bracts are reddish. A typical feature that distinguishes it from other genera Cereus, is that many of the developing fruit remains for some time after flowering and fall of the perianth of the stylus. The juicy when ripe fruits are often greenish or yellow or red, burst and released numerous large black seeds.

Systematics and distribution

After their formation, by Philip Miller in 1754, the genus Cereus was a reservoir for all columnar cacti, emerged from the first over time and with increasing knowledge of the plants various other genres. Several cereus ending with generic names like Armatocereus, Praecereus and selenicereus still remember.

The genus is widespread in South America in the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Caribbean.

The type species of the genus Cactus hexagonus. The genus Cereus includes the following types:

  • Subgenus Cereus cereus argentinensis
  • Cereus bicolor
  • Cereus braunii
  • Cereus cochabambensis
  • Cereus comarapanus
  • Cereus fernambucensis Cereus fernambucensis subsp. fernambucensis
  • Cereus fernambucensis subsp. sericifer
  • Cereus jamacaru subsp. jamacaru
  • Cereus jamacaru subsp. calcirupicola
  • Cereus jamacaru subsp. goiasensis
  • Cereus lamprospermus subsp. lamprospermus
  • Cereus lamprospermus subsp. Colosseus
  • Subgenus Ebneria ( Backeb. ) D.R.Hunt cereus adelmarii
  • Cereus aethiops
  • Cereus estevesii
  • Cereus haageanus
  • Cereus kroenleinii
  • Cereus phatnospermus
  • Cereus saddianus (order uncertain)
  • Cereus spegazzinii
  • Subgenus Mirabella ( F.Ritter ) N.P.Taylor cereus albicaulis
  • Cereus mirabella
  • Subgenus Oblongicarpi ( Croizat ) DRHunt & NPTaylor cereus fricii
  • Cereus horrispinus
  • Cereus huilunchu
  • Cereus mortensenii
  • Cereus repandus

Synonyms of the genus are Cirinosum Neck., Mirabella F.Ritter and Piptanthocereus ( A.Berger ) Riccob.

Evidence

Cactoideae
173599
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