Rauhocereus

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).

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

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. "Rauhocereus Backeb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  3. "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). p. 558. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
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