Pereskiopsis
Right: Pereskiopsis rotundifolia left and middle: Pereskia species
Pereskiopsis is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name of the genus derives from the Greek noun " ὅψις " ( opsis ) for appearance and refers to the resemblance to the plants of the genus Pereskia.
Description
The often climbing or klimmenden species of the genus Pereskiopsis grow shrubby or tree-like branches with several irregular and sometimes have well-trained strains. The round cross-section drives are not divided. Your flat and fleshy, usually lasting leaves are elliptic, ovate, spatula -shaped or almost round. The round areoles are hairy and usually bear glochids. One to several needle-like spines are usually present. The Perikarpell is covered with leaves, shed and glochids, a flower tube is missing.
The flowers are similar to those of Opuntia and spring laterally from the shoots of the previous year, but sometimes also from the growing tip. They open during the day and are yellow to red to pink. The club-shaped, fleshy fruits do not crack and are often staffed by glochids. They are red or orange, sometimes succulent and contain few, broadly ovate, whitish - yellowish seeds 4-5 mm in length.
Systematics and distribution
The distribution of species of the genus Pereskiopsis extends from Mexico south to Guatemala.
Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose introduced in 1907 for some species of the genera Opuntia and Pereskia to the new genus Pereskiopsis. The type species of the genus Opuntia is porteri. Belong to the genus of the following types:
- Pereskiopsis aquosa
- Pereskiopsis blakeana
- Pereskiopsis diguetii
- Pereskiopsis gatesii
- Pereskiopsis kellermanii
- Pereskiopsis porteri
- Pereskiopsis rotundifolia
- Pereskiopsis spathulata