Consolea
Consolea spinosissima
Consolea is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name of the genus honors Michelangelo Console an inspector at the Botanical Garden in Palermo.
Description
The species of the genus Consolea grow tree-like or with several main stems. The spherical, elliptical or egg-shaped drive sections are often irregular in shape, have curved edges and either a smooth or recognizable reticulate surface. The tiny leaves are usually cylindrical and fall off early. The areoles bear glochids, hair and variable thorns that sometimes may be missing.
The red to orange to yellow flowers are small and open on the day. The extended Perikarpell is laterally flattened and sometimes curved.
The elongated to ovate, obovate or clavate fruits are fleshy. They contain highly specialized, yellowish - white seeds 3-4 mm in length, which are laterally strongly compressed.
Systematics and distribution
The species of the genus Consolea are common in Florida and the Caribbean. The first description of the genus was made in 1862 by Charles Lemaire. The type species of the genus is Opuntia rubescens. Belong to the genus of the following types:
- Consolea corallicola
- Consolea falcata
- Consolea macracantha
- Consolea millspaughii Consolea millspaughii subsp. caymanensis
- Consolea millspaughii subsp. millspaughii
- Consolea moniliformis subsp. moniliformis
- Consolea moniliformis subsp. guantanamana
- Consolea nashii subsp. nashii
- Consolea nashii subsp. gibarensis