Myrtillocactus
Myrtillocactus is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name of the genus comes from the Greek word " myrtillo " for small and myrtenähnlich and refers to the fruits that look similar to those of the myrtle.
Description
The species of the genus Myrtillocactus grow bushy or tree-like, with more or less erect branches. The ribbed shoots bear areoles from which spring from similar spines.
The small flowers with radial symmetry arise in clusters up to 9 flowers. They open during the day and sometimes stay open until at night. Your flower cups and flower-tube covered with small scales and somewhat woolly.
The small spherical fruits are berry-like and taste sweet. They contain broad oval, slightly dull black -brown seed.
Systematics and distribution
The distribution of species of the genus Myrtillocactus ranges from Guatemala to the south of central Mexico and the North of the North - Mexico and includes Baja California. The first description of the genus in 1897 by Michelangelo Console, when he put those described in 1837 by Ludwig Georg Karl Pfeiffer Cereus geometrizans in a separate genus. The type species of the genus is therefore Cereus geometrizans.
Belong to the genus of the following types:
- Myrtillocactus cochal
- Myrtillocactus eichlamii
- Myrtillocactus geometrizans
- Myrtillocactus schenckii
A synonym for the genus is Myrtillocereus Fric & Cross.