Opuntia pestifer Britton & Rose
Publication The Cactaceae 1: 217 (-218, 103), fig. 281 et 283 (1919).
Publication originale:
"82a Opuntia pestifer nom. nov.
Cactus nanus Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6: 68. 1823.
Cereus nanus De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 470. 1828.
Low and nearly prostrate but sometimes 2 dm. high, much branched; the joints very fragile, glabrous; young joints 2 to 5 cm. long, or when old up to 8 cm. long, nearly terete, 1 to 3 cm. in diameter, or when young flattened and 2 to 3 cm. broad, very spiny; spines 2 to 5 at each areole, acicular, brownish, 1 to 3 cm. long; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers and fruit unknown.
Type locality: Near Sondorello and Guancabamba. In Humboldt's time these places were in southern Ecuador, but they are now in northern Peru.
Distribution: Northern Peru to central Ecuador.
Dr. Rose observed the plant in various places in Ecuador, usually at an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 meters. The following collections were made: at Huigra (No. 22306); at Sibambe (No. 22433); and west of San Pedro, Province of Loja (No. 23352).
This plant, although widely distributed and very common, has never been seen by botanists in flower or fruit. The joints, which come loose easily, are freely distributed by animals. It is so small that, growing half-hidden in the grass, it is easily overlooked but very annoying when one comes upon it unawares. Humboldt speaks of its being troublesome to men and dogs.
Kunth who describes it as Cactus nanus referred it with hesitancy to the section Cereus. De Candolle transferred it from Cactus to Cereus placing it in a new subgenus Opuntiacei along with C. moniliformis (which we now know is an Opuntia) and C. serpens. He thought these might represent a genus between Opuntia and Cereus.
Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 166) considered it an Opuntia but did not formally refer it to that genus.
This name should not be confused with Opuntia nana (Fl. Damatica 3: 143. 1852) which is Opuntia opuntia.
Figure 281 is from a photograph taken by George Rose at Sibambe, Ecuador, in 1918; figure 283 shows the joints of the same plant (Rose, No. 22433)."
pestifer: du latin pestis, fléau et ferre, porter: qui porte un fléau (en lui) en référence au danger que représente cette petite espèce avec ses articles sessiles dont les épines barbelées se plantent dans les jambes.
Fiche créée le 03/09/2005.
Synonyme de
Opuntia pubescens H.L.WendlandCommentaires
Un nom nouveau rendu nécessaire par l'impossibilité de recombiner Cactus nanus en Opuntia nana du fait de la publication antérieure d'un homonyme. Le type d'Opuntia pestifer Britton & Rose est donc le même que celui de Cactus nanus Kunth.Publication originale:
"82a Opuntia pestifer nom. nov.
Cactus nanus Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6: 68. 1823.
Cereus nanus De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 470. 1828.
Low and nearly prostrate but sometimes 2 dm. high, much branched; the joints very fragile, glabrous; young joints 2 to 5 cm. long, or when old up to 8 cm. long, nearly terete, 1 to 3 cm. in diameter, or when young flattened and 2 to 3 cm. broad, very spiny; spines 2 to 5 at each areole, acicular, brownish, 1 to 3 cm. long; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers and fruit unknown.
Type locality: Near Sondorello and Guancabamba. In Humboldt's time these places were in southern Ecuador, but they are now in northern Peru.
Distribution: Northern Peru to central Ecuador.
Dr. Rose observed the plant in various places in Ecuador, usually at an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 meters. The following collections were made: at Huigra (No. 22306); at Sibambe (No. 22433); and west of San Pedro, Province of Loja (No. 23352).
This plant, although widely distributed and very common, has never been seen by botanists in flower or fruit. The joints, which come loose easily, are freely distributed by animals. It is so small that, growing half-hidden in the grass, it is easily overlooked but very annoying when one comes upon it unawares. Humboldt speaks of its being troublesome to men and dogs.
Kunth who describes it as Cactus nanus referred it with hesitancy to the section Cereus. De Candolle transferred it from Cactus to Cereus placing it in a new subgenus Opuntiacei along with C. moniliformis (which we now know is an Opuntia) and C. serpens. He thought these might represent a genus between Opuntia and Cereus.
Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 166) considered it an Opuntia but did not formally refer it to that genus.
This name should not be confused with Opuntia nana (Fl. Damatica 3: 143. 1852) which is Opuntia opuntia.
Figure 281 is from a photograph taken by George Rose at Sibambe, Ecuador, in 1918; figure 283 shows the joints of the same plant (Rose, No. 22433)."
Étymologie
Opuntia: origine incertaine: voir la fiche de genre.pestifer: du latin pestis, fléau et ferre, porter: qui porte un fléau (en lui) en référence au danger que représente cette petite espèce avec ses articles sessiles dont les épines barbelées se plantent dans les jambes.
Numéros de collecte
Vous pouvez chercher les numéros de collecte pour cette espèce dans :- la base de Ralph Martin : Opuntia pestifer
- la base de Christophe Ludwig : Opuntia pestifer
Forum
Vous pouvez faire une recherche sur le forum.Auteur
philippe (contacter l'auteur ou écrire aux admins de l'encyclopédie)Fiche créée le 03/09/2005.
Fiches de botanistes :
Britton, Nathaniel Lord
Rose, Joseph Nelson
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