''Reicheocactus'' is a
monotypic
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 "unisp ...
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
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, ...
in the family Cactaceae, native to north western Argentina. It has only one known species, ''Reicheocactus famatimensis''.
Description
''Reicheocactus famatinensis'' usually grows solitary and only occasionally forms cushions. The spherical to short cylindrical shoots reach heights of with diameters of . The
shoot apex
In cell biology, the meristem is a structure composed of specialized tissue found in plants, consisting of stem cells, known as meristematic cells, which are undifferentiated cells capable of continuous cellular division. These meristematic ce ...
is strongly sunken. There are 24 to 30 low ribs, which are divided into cusps. The brownish
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 on them are elongated. Central spines are not formed. The seven to nine whitish to yellowish marginal spines have a darker base. They are curved, rest on the surface of the shoot and are up to long. The short, funnel-shaped, yellow to orange flowers are long.
It is usually solitary or slowly clumping and slow growing. The stems are small flattened-roundish to cylindrical with very short spidery-pectinate spines and egg-yellow flowers.
Taxonomy
The genus ''Reicheocactus'' was published in Cactaceae (Berlin) 1941(2) on page 76 (published in 1942), and the species was published in Cactaceae Syst. Init. vol.28 on page 30 in 2012.
It was once thought to be a synonym of ''
Rebutia
''Rebutia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, native to Bolivia and Argentina. The limits of the genus have varied widely, depending on whether genera such as ''Aylostera'' and ''Weingartia'' are included or treated separate ...
'',
and commonly found in cactus nurseries as ''Lobivia famatimensis''.
The genus name of ''Reicheocactus'' is in honour of
Karl Friedrich Reiche
Karl Friedrich Reiche (, October 31, 1860 – February 26, 1929) was a German botanist who worked as a university professor in Chile and Mexico.
Life
Reiche was born in Dresden and earned his doctorate in 1885 in Leipzig. He worked as a profe ...
(1860-1929), who was a German
botanist
Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxonomy, taxonomy, and Plant ecology, ecology. A botanist or plant scientist is a scientist who s ...
who worked as a university
professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...
in
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...
and
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
.
The Latin
specific epithet
In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...
of ''famatimensis'' is derived from
Sierra de Famatina image:Coat of arms of the La Rioja Province.svg, 200px, Coat of arms of La Rioja featuring ''Cerro General Belgrano''
The Sierra de Famatina is a mountain range and massif in the Sierras Pampeanas of the Argentine province of La Rioja Province (Arge ...
, a mountain range and
massif
A massif () is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central). In mountaineering literature, ''massif'' is frequently used to denote the main mass of an ...
in the
Andes
The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...
of the Argentine province of
La Rioja
La Rioja () is an autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community and provinces of Spain, province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other List of municipalities in La Rioja, cities and towns in the ...
.
Distribution
The species grows at elevations of meters above sea level.
It is found in high altitude
grasslands
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge ( Cyperaceae) and rush ( Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur ...
on rocky soils. The species is not common or abundant, however it is difficult to see because of its small size. The major threat for the species is over collection (by plant collectors). The potential development of
mining
Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
in its natural habitat could affect the populations of the species in the near future.
References
External links
*
*
Other sources
* Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton "Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names". Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q21447035, from2=Q92432206
Cereeae
Cereeae genera
Monotypic Cactaceae genera