| Isolatocereus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Echinocereeae |
| Genus: | Isolatocereus Backeb. 1942 |
| Species: | I. dumortieri |
| Binomial name | |
| Isolatocereus dumortieri (Scheidw.) Buxb. 1999 | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Isolatocereus is amonotypicgenus of flowering plant in the familyCactaceae. The only species isIsolatocereus dumortieri that is found in Mexico.[2]
Isolatocereus dumortieri is a large, tree-like, and candelabra-shaped cactus, grows to heights of 5–15 meters, with a trunk exceeding 1-1.5 meter in length and about 35 cm in width. It is blue-green, covered with grayish wax. Branches erect, parallel to each other, all almost the same length, curved at the base, with the apex attenuated, up to 10 meters long and 5–15 cm in diameter. The cactus has 5–8 bluntly triangular ribs up to 2 cm high, and itsareoles are dark. It features 1–4 yellowish-white central spines up to 5 cm long and 6–9 shorter reddish-brown wool and some short, bristly radial spines that darken over time, reaching 1 cm in length.
The scentless tubular flowers grow near the shoot tips and bloom multiple times, sometimes forming small crowns. They are mostly self-incompatible. They open at night and remain open until midday, appearing pale green to white, tubular to funnel-shaped, and 2.5–3.5 cm long. The edible fruits are subglobose to ellipsoid, remain green for some time, then turn orange to red, and measure 2.5–3.5 cm in length. They are covered in small red scales and contain black seeds approximately 1.5 mm in size.Fruits have red pulp, 3 to 4 cm long and 2 to 3.5 cm wide, covered with short podaries arranged in 4 series, with areoles provided with a reduced deltoid basal scab and short emerging felt, with very short spines, dehiscent at its apical part, giving off a pleasant aroma similar to that of jasmine, very juicy, fleshy and sweet when ripe[3][4]
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Isolatocereus dumortieri is native to several Mexican states, including Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, and Zacatecas at elevations between 1100 and 2200 meters.[5] Plants are found in deciduous forest, grasslands growing on slopes or rocky cliffs growing along withCephalocereus senilis. The flowers are pollinated animals that feed on the nectar including hummingbirds such asAmazilia violiceps,Cynanthus sordidus, andCynanthus latirostris; bat such asLeptonycteris yerbabuenae,Leptonycteris nivalis,Glossophaga soricina,Choeronycteris mexicana,Sturnira lilium parvidens, andDermanura tolteca; and bees. The seeds are dispersed by bats andBassariscus astutus which eats the fruits.[6]
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First described asCereus dumortieri byMichael Joseph François Scheidweiler in 1837, the genus name "Isolatocereus" derives from the Italian word isolato (isolated). The species name honors Belgian botanistBarthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier.[7] It is also known by the common names "Candelabro," "Órgano," and "Pitayo."Curt Backeberg established the genusIsolatocereus in 1942, placing this species within it.[8]Isolatocereus was split fromStenocereus into a separate genus (not all authorities had agreed with this as of 2008).[9]
Media related toIsolatocereus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toIsolatocereus at Wikispecies