Lava cactus
Brachycereus nesioticus on Isla Bartolomé
Brachycereus nesioticus is the only species of the monotypic genus Brachycereus in the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name of the genus comes from the Greek adjective " βραχύς " ( brachys ) for short and means Short Cereus. The epithet of the species is derived from the Greek noun " νήσος " ( nesos ) from on the island.
Description
The much -born Brachycereus nesioticus forms dense cushions that reach a circumference of 2 meters. The more or less upright, cylindrical, thick with thorns wrapped shoots have a plant height of 10 to 50 inches with a diameter of 3 to 5 centimeters. His 16 to 22 ribs are low. The approximately 40 unequal, radiating, stiff until something flexible spines are yellowish and dark ages. The spines are 0.5 to 5 inches long.
The creamy white and concentrated teach ring flowers open on the day, are 6 to 11 inches long and have a diameter between 2 to 5.5 inches. The Perikarpell is covered with numerous spiny areoles and small scales. The dark, fleshy fruits with flowers lasting rest are 1.5 to 3.5 inches long and have a diameter from 1 to 1.4 inches. They contain brownish black, round to ovoid seeds of 1 to 1.5 millimeters in diameter.
Distribution, systematics and hazard
Brachycereus nesioticus is disseminated to the lying in the Galápagos archipelago islands Isla Bartlomé, Isla Fernandina, Isla Genovesa, Isla Isabela, Isla Pinta and Isla San Salvador and grows there on barren lava. The genus was erected in 1920 by Britton and Rose. The first description of the species as Cereus nesioticus by Karl Moritz Schumann was published in 1902. Curt Backeberg she put 1936 in the genus Brachycereus.
Brachycereus nesioticus was in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN in 2002 as " Vulnerable (VU) ," ie, endangered classified. In 2013, the species as "Least Concern ( LC) ," ie, than not led at risk.