Genus of cacti
Leuenbergeria is a genus of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, mostly native around the Caribbean. Unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves and develops bark on its stems early in its growth. The genus was created in 2012 by Joël Lodé. Before the creation of "Leuenbergeria" as a genus, the species within it were included in a broadly circumscribed genus, "Pereskia". "Leuenbergeria" is the only genus in the subfamily Leuenbergerioideae.
Description.
Species of "Leuenbergeria" grow as trees or shrubs, up to in the case of "L. lychnidiflora". They differ from most cacti in having leaves even when mature – as also do species of "Pereskia" and "Rhodocactus", with which "Leuenbergeria" species were once united in a single genus. "Leuenbergeria" differs from those other genera in that the stems of "Leuenbergeria" species form bark at an early stage in their growth and do not have stomata, preventing them from acting as organs of photosynthesis. Like other cacti, they have areoles bearing spines. In most species, the areoles also bear leaves. Their flowers are mostly pink, orange or red, although some species have yellow flowers.
Taxonomy.
Joël Lodé created the genus "Leuenbergeria" in 2012. The name honours the Swiss botanist Beat Ernst Leuenberger. The genus "Pereskia" was previously broadly defined so that it included "Leuenbergeria". Molecular phylogenetic studies suggested that there were three clades within "Pereskia" when circumscribed in this way. "Leuenbergeria" was created for the "Northern clade". By 2016, all three clades were recognized as separate genera. A consensus cladogram from a 2005 study is shown below with the more recent generic assignments added. It shows that the three genera are basal to the rest of the cacti.
"Leuenbergeria" has been placed as the only genus in the subfamily Leuenbergerioideae.
Within the genus, a 2005 molecular phylogenetic study suggested the species were related as shown in the following cladogram. The position of the ovary appears to have some phylogenetic significance. The sister species "L. aureiflora" and "L. guamacho" are the only two with yellow flowers.
Species.
As of May 2019[ [update]], Plants of the World Online accepted eight species:
Distribution.
"Leuenbergeria" has a discontinuous distribution. Most species are native to southwest Mexico and around the Caribbean, in both the West Indies and northern South America. "L. aureiflora" is the exception, being found in eastern Brazil.
References.
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