Biology:Pereskia stenantha
| Pereskia stenantha | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stem with areoles, in cultivation | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Pereskia |
| Species: | P. stenantha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pereskia stenantha F.Ritter[2]
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Pereskia stenantha, synonym Rhodocactus stenanthus, is a species of cactus that is endemic to Brazil. Like all species in the genus Pereskia, and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. In its native locality, it is sometimes used in hedges.
Description
Pereskia stenantha grows as a small tree or a shrub, usually reaching 2–4 m (7–13 ft) high, occasionally 6 m (20 ft), with trunks to about 15 cm (6 in) in diameter in large specimens. The young twigs, 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) thick, have variable numbers of stomata. Mature stems develop grayish-brown bark. Like all species of Pereskia, and unlike most other cacti, P. stenantha has persistent leaves, that are variable in shape and size. The very largest are up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 9 cm (3.5 in) wide, but more usually they are 7–11 cm (2.8–4.3 in) by 4–6 cm (1.6–2.4 in). The fleshy leaves are often folded upwards along the midrib and have short petioles, 2–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. The areoles bear leaves (brachyblast leaves) along with spines. The areoles on the twigs have up to seven spines, those on the trunks may have about 40, each up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long. The flowers are orange-red on the outside and pink inside and are borne in terminal or axillary inflorescences of 1–15 forming dense clusters. Individual flowers are urn-shaped (urceolate) and do not open widely, reaching only 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) across. The fruits are variable in shape, 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) long, green or yellowish-green when ripe, and contain many glossy black seeds.[3] In its native habitat, P. stenanthas flowers in the spring and summer, from November to April.[3]
In all features other than the flowers, P. stenantha closely resembles P. bahiensis. The shape, colour and orientation of the flowers suggests they may be pollinated by hummingbirds.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Friedrich Ritter in 1979.[4] Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2005 onwards suggested that when Pereskia was broadly circumscribed, it was not monophyletic, and consisted of three clades.[5][6][7] In 2016, the genus Rhodocactus was revived for one of these clades, with P. stenantha included as R. stenanthus.[7] In 2025, a major study of the phylogenomics and classification of cacti by De Vos et al. did not recognize Rhodocactus, based on sparse taxon sampling.[8] As of April 2026[update], Plants of the World Online agreed, accepting Rhodocactus stenanthus as a synonym of Pereskia stenantha.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Pereskia stenantha is native to northeast and southeast Brazil.[2] In the state of Bahia, it occurs in caatinga (subtropical and tropical dry shrubland) at altitudes of about 400–600 m (1,300–2,000 ft).[3]
Conservation
Pereskia stenantha has been assessed as Least Concern, with no major threats. is a common species with a stable population trend and regenerates well after disturbance.[1]
Uses
In the areas where it grows, local people may plant Pereskia stenantha in hedges.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Taylor, N.P.; Zappi, D.; Machado, M.; Braun, P. (2017). "Pereskia stenantha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T46511A121559608.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46511/121559608.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Pereskia stenantha F.Ritter", Plants of the World Online (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:190132-2, retrieved 2026-04-03
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Leuenberger, Beat Ernst (1986), Pereskia (Cactaceae), Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, 14, Bronx, NY: New York Botanical Garden, pp. 122–126, ISBN 978-0-89327-307-1, http://mertzdigital.nybg.org/digital/collection/p9016coll16/id/6859/rec/2, retrieved 2021-05-02
- ↑ "Pereskia stenantha F.Ritter", The International Plant Names Index, http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=190132-2, retrieved 2026-04-03
- ↑ Edwards, Erika J.; Nyffeler, Reto; Donoghue, Michael J. (2005), "Basal cactus phylogeny: implications of Pereskia (Cactaceae) paraphyly for the transition to the cactus life form", American Journal of Botany 92 (7): 1177–1188, doi:10.3732/ajb.92.7.1177, PMID 21646140
- ↑ Bárcenas, Rolando T.; Yesson, Chris; Hawkins, Julie A. (2011), "Molecular systematics of the Cactaceae", Cladistics 27 (5): 470–489, doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2011.00350.x, PMID 34875796
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Asai, Issaku; Miyata, Kazunori (2016), "An Emendation of Rhodocactus, a Genus Segregated from Pereskia (Cactaceae)", Journal of Japanese Botany 91: 7–12, http://www.jjbotany.com/pdf/JJB_091_7_12.pdf, retrieved 2021-04-25
- ↑ De Vos, Jurriaan M.; Eggli, Urs; Nyffeler, Reto; Larridon, Isabel; McGinnie, Catherine; Epitawalage, Niroshini; Maurin, Olivier; Forest, Félix et al. (2025), "Phylogenomics and classification of Cactaceae based on hundreds of nuclear genes", Plant Systematics and Evolution 311 (5): 28, doi:10.1007/s00606-025-01948-z
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