Species of cactus
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Rhodocactus grandifolius (rose cactus; syn. Pereskia grandifolia) is a species of cactus native to eastern and southern Brazil. Like all species in the genus "Rhodocactus" and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. It was first described in 1819. It is grown as an ornamental plant and has naturalized outside its native range.
Description.
Although "Rhodocactus grandifolius" is a cactus by classification, it takes the form of a shrub or small tree, in height, exceptionally . Young twigs are green or reddish with conspicuous white spots marking the stomata. It has trunk has grayish-brown bark and has a diameter of up to . The areoles are rounded, cushion-shaped, and with grayish or brownish tomentum. On the twigs, they are across and up to on the main trunk. The areoles can have one to three or occasionally four leaves (brachyblast leaves) in addition to spines. The spines range from black to brown, the number at each areole gradually increasing with age; new twigs can have spineless areoles, while the trunk areoles may have up to 90 spines, each long. The leaves vary in size, and are usually from long, but can be shorter or up to long. They are entire, with shapes ranging from elliptic to ovate and obovate-lanceolate. The dense inflorescence develops at the ends of stems and also laterally from the areoles of upper parts of the main shoots and twigs. It usually has 10-15 flowers, but sometimes has 30 or more. The flowers which may be pale pink through to purplish-pink are showy and rose-like, about across. The fruit is very variable in size and shape, and is green, yellowish or reddish-green when ripe. It contains many glossy black seeds.
Taxonomy.
The species was first described by Adrian Hardy Haworth in 1819 as "Pereskia grandifolia". It was transferred to "Rhodocactus" as "R. grandifolius" by Frederik Marcus Knuth in 1936. However, this was not accepted by most botanists, and "Rhodocactus" was sunk into a broadly circumscribed "Pereskia". Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2005 onwards suggested that with this circumscription, "Pereskia" was not monophyletic, and consisted of three clades. In 2016, the genus "Rhodocactus" was revived for one of these clades, which included "R. grandifolius".
Varieties.
Two varieties are accepted:
Distribution.
The species as a whole is native to eastern and southern Brazil. It is widely cultivated in other parts of South America, the West Indies and beyond, and has become naturalized in some of these countries, including Vietnam. "R. grandifolius" var. "grandifolius" has a similar distribution; "R. grandifolius" var. "violaceus" is apparently native to Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, but is cultivated in neighbouring states.
Uses.
"Rhodocactus grandifolius" is grown as an ornamental plant, appreciated for its flowers. It is also used as a hedge. Its leaves can be eaten as a salad or used in stews.
References.
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