Maihuenia
Maihuenia poeppigii in flower at the botanical garden Dresden
Maihuenia is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ) and is the only genus within the subfamily Maihuenioideae. The botanical name is derived from " maihuén " with which the Mapuche call the plants. It belongs to the C3 plants.
Description
The low-growing, sprouting plants form cushions up to more than a meter scale. Your segmented or non-segmented, olive green, succulent stem is spherical to kurzzylindrisch and contributes greatly reduced, permanent, small leaves. They are conical to linear and circular in cross section. From the numerous, small areoles with silky hairs arise usually three white to brown spines that are slightly darker at the top. The central spine, which may be absent, is stronger than the two spines.
The white or yellow, single flowers are terminal got a large perianth. They open on the day. The flowers are 3 to 4 ( often 2.5 to 5 ) inches long and reach a diameter of 4 to 6 ( often 2.5 to 6 ) inches.
The almost spherical, oblong or clavate fruits are yellow, somewhat fleshy covered with numerous scales. They contain black shiny, almost circular seed 3-4 millimeters in diameter.
Systematics and distribution
The genus is widespread, and mainly in the south of South America in Patagonia.
The first plant was described in 1835 under the name of Opuntia caespitosa Eduard Friedrich Poeppig. This name, however, was already taken and so comes the valid first description of a species of this genus by Ludwig Pfeiffer of 1837 published the description of Opuntia poeppigii. The description as a separate genus in 1883 by Rudolph Amandus Philippi. The type species is Opuntia poeppigii Otto ex Pfeiff.
The genus Maihuenia include the following two ways:
- Maihuenia patagonica ( Phil.) Britton & Rose
- Maihuenia poeppigii ( Otto ex Pfeiff. ) Phil ex K.Schum.