Rauhocereus
Rauhocereus riosaniensis in cultivation
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Subtribe: Trichocereinae
Genus: Rauhocereus
Backeb.[2]
Species:
R. riosaniensis
Binomial name
Rauhocereus riosaniensis
Backeb.[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Browningia riosaniensis (Backeb.) G.D.Rowley

Rauhocereus is a monotypic genus of cacti (family Cactaceae). Its only species is Rauhocereus riosaniensis,[2] which has nocturnal flowers.[4] It is known from northern Peru (Rio Santa, Rio Zana, Chamaya and Jaén).

Description

The mostly shrubby Rauhocereus riosaniensis, usually branching from the ground, often forms thickets up to 4 meters high. The upright, columnar shoots are bluish-green and have a diameter of 8 to 15 centimeters. The 5 to 6 ribs are broken up into many warts. 2 to 8 strong thorns, up to 5 centimeters long, emerge from the woolly areoles. The lower ones are initially reddish, the upper ones yellowish. Later all become greyish-white.

The bell-shaped flowers appear near the shoot tip. They open at night, are 8 to 10 centimeters long and have a diameter of up to 5 centimeters. The flower cup and the flower tube are covered with small scales and curly brown hairs.

The red, fleshy fruits are ovoid with a persistent flower rest. They contain small, ovoid, shiny black seeds.[5]

Taxonomy

The genus and its only species were first described in 1957 by Curt Backeberg.[2] As of October 2023, Plants of the World Online accepted two subspecies:[3]

  • Rauhocereus riosaniensis subsp. jaenensis (Rauh) Ostolaza
  • Rauhocereus riosaniensis subsp. riosaniensis

Distribution

Rauhocereus riosaniensis is found in northern Peru in the Amazonas and Cajamarca regions at altitudes of 500 to 1000 meters.

References

  1. ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Rauhocereus Backeb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  3. 1 2 "Rauhocereus riosaniensis Backeb." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ↑ Marcelo-Peña, J. L.; Huamantupa, I.; Särkinen, T.; Tomazello, M. (2016). "IDENTIFYING CONSERVATION PRIORITY AREAS IN THE MARAÑÓN VALLEY (PERU) BASED ON FLORISTIC INVENTORIES". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 73 (1): 95–123. doi:10.1017/S0960428615000281. ISSN 1474-0036.
  5. ↑ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Ulmer. p. 558. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
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