''Espostoopsis'' is a

monotypic genus In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

containing the single

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

''Espostoopsis dybowskii''. The generic name is formed from

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

''opsis'' meaning "view", referring to its resemblance to the genus ''

Espostoa ''Espostoa'' is a genus of columnar cacti, comprising 16 species known from the Andes of southern Ecuador and Peru. It usually lives at an altitude of between 800m and 2500m. Its fruit is edible, sweet, and juicy. The genus is named after Nicolas ...

'', with which it is often confused. The plant is only known from northern

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Description

''Espostoopsis dybowskii'' grows shrubby and branches from the ground, reaches heights 2 to 4 meters. Their cylindrical trunks have 20 to 28 ribs, reaches up to a diameter of 8 centimeters and completely covered by white hairs. The

areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...

s are covered with dull, yellowish wool and abundant white hairs. The 2 to 3 protruding, needle-like central spines are yellow and 2 to 3 centimeters long. The numerous, short and thin radial spines are hidden in the hairs of the areoles. The cephalium arises laterally and has a length of up to 60 centimeters. The flowers are white and short tubular to bell-shaped, open at night and are up to 4 centimeters long. The flower tube covered with very small scales. The fruits are almost glabrose, pink fruits with persistent, blackening flower remains are broadly ovate in shape and have a diameter of up to 2.5 centimeters. Fruits contain white flesh and do not tear open. The black, rough-warty seeds are oval to pear-shaped.

Taxonomy

The genus was first described in 1968 by

Franz Buxbaum Franz Buxbaum (25 February 1900, Liebenau, Graz – 7 February 1979) was an Austrian botanist, specialising in cacti A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the orde ...

. The specific epithet ''dybowskii'' honors the botanist and agricultural scientist Jean Dybowski. Its only species was first described in 1909 as ''Cereus dybowskii'' by Robert Roland-Gosselin. Further nomenclature synonym are ''Cephalocereus dybowskii'' (Rol.-Goss.) Britton & Rose (1920), ''Austrocephalocereus dybowskii'' (Rol.-Goss.) Backeb. (1951), ''Austrocephalocereus dyhowskii'' (Rol.-Goss.) Backeb. (1951), ''Gerocephalus dybowskii'' (Rol.-Goss.) F.Ritter (1968) and ''Coleocephalocereus dybowskii'' (Rol.-Goss.) F.H.Brandt (1981). The genus was formerly placed in subtribe

Trichocereinae Trichocereinae is a subtribe of cactus that are particular to South America. There are 28 recognized genera in this subtribe. Description Arborescent to shrubby, Trichocereinae normally form unsegmented, spherical to columnar stems that are usual ...

, but a 2023

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study found that it belonged to subtribe

Cereinae ''Cereinae'' is a subtribe of Cactus, cacti in the tribe Cereeae, subfamily Cactoideae. It is one of the six subtribes into which the tribe Cereeae was divided in 2023, the others being the monotypic Aylosterinae, Gymnocalyciinae, and Uebelmannii ...

Distribution and habitat

''Espostoopsis dybowskii'' is found growing in granite and quartz outcrops in northern Bahia, Brazil at altitudes of 300 to 750 meters.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from1=Q8178185, from2=Q137902 Cereeae Cacti of South America Endemic flora of Brazil Flora of Bahia Cereeae genera Monotypic Cactaceae genera Vulnerable flora of South America