Arthrocereus melanurus

Arthrocereus melanurus
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Arthrocereus
Species:	A. melanurus
Binomial name
Arthrocereus melanurus (K.Schum.) L.Diers, P.J.Braun & Esteves
Synonyms
Cereus melanurus K.Schum. 1876

Arthrocereus melanurus is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It is threatened largely by habitat loss.[1]

Description

Arthrocereus melanurus grows basally branched with multiple shoots that are up to a meter or more long. The shoots are divided at short intervals, with the individual segments being 10 to 40 cm (3.9 to 15.7 in) long and having a diameter of 2.5 to 3.5 cm (0.98 to 1.38 in). The 9 to 19 low ribs are 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) high. There are numerous, unequally long, golden yellow to white thorns. The up to 15 strong upper marginal and central spines are brown. The approximately 20 lower bristle-like radial spines are between 5 and 8 mm (0.20 and 0.31 in) long. The yellow to white flowers are up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long.[2]

Subspecies

Image	Name	Distribution
	Arthrocereus melanurus subsp. melanurus	Brazil (SW. Minas Gerais).
	Arthrocereus melanurus subsp. magnus N.P.Taylor & Zappi	Brazil (S. Minas Gerais)
	Arthrocereus melanurus subsp. odorus (F.Ritter) N.P.Taylor & Zappi	Brazil (S. Central Minas Gerais)

Distribution

Arthrocereus melanurus is widespread in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais at altitudes of 700 to 1700 meters.

Taxonomy

The first description as Cereus melanurus by Karl Moritz Schumann was published in 1890.[3] The specific epithet melanurus is derived from the Greek words “μέλας” for black and “οὐρά” and refers to the appearance of the first plants collected. Lothar Diers, Pierre Josef Braun and Eddie Esteves Pereira placed the species in the genus Arthrocereus in 1987.[3] A nomenclature synonym is Leocereus melanurus (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose (1920).[4]

References

1. Taylor, N.P.; Braun, P. (2017). "Arthrocereus melanurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T40934A121437273. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T40934A121437273.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 81. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
3. Martius, Karl Friedrich Philipp von; Eichler, August Wilhelm; Endlicher, István László; Fenzl, Eduard; Mary, Benj.; Oldenburg, R.; Urban, Ignaz (1840). Flora Brasiliensis, enumeratio plantarum in Brasilia hactenus detectarum :quas suis aliorumque botanicorum studiis descriptas et methodo naturali digestas partim icone illustratas /ediderunt Carolus Fridericus Philippus de Martius et Augustus Guilielmus Eichler ; iisque defunctis successor Ignatius Urban. Monachii et Lipsiae [Munich & Leipzig]: R. Oldenbourg. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.454.
4. "Au Cactus Francophone". Au Cactus Francophone (in French). Retrieved 2023-10-03.

External links

• Media related to Arthrocereus melanurus at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Arthrocereus melanurus at Wikispecies