Pelecyphora chlorantha

Pelecyphora chlorantha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Pelecyphora
Species:
P. chlorantha
Binomial name
Pelecyphora chlorantha
(Engelm.) Stock
Synonyms
  • Cactus radiosus var. chloranthus (Engelm.) J.M.Coult. 1894
  • Coryphantha chlorantha (Engelm.) Britton & Rose 1923
  • Escobaria chlorantha (Engelm.) Buxb. 1951
  • Mammillaria chlorantha Engelm. 1878 publ. 1879
  • Mammillaria radiosa f. chlorantha (Engelm.) Schelle 1907
  • Mammillaria vivipara var. chlorantha (Engelm.) L.D.Benson 1950
  • Coryphantha deserti (Engelm.) Britton & Rose 1923
  • Coryphantha vivipara var. deserti (Engelm.) W.T. Marshall 1950
  • Escobaria deserti (Engelm.) Buxb. 1951
  • Escobaria vivipara var. deserti (Engelm.) D.R. Hunt 1978
  • Mammillaria deserti Engelm. 1880

Pelecyphora chlorantha is a species of Pelecyphora found in the United States.[1]

Description

Pelecyphora chlorantha usually grows solitary or in small groups with a diameter of 7–9 cm. The cylindrical shoots reach heights of up to 7-15 centimeters. The plants have 12-33 radial spines per areoles. The four to eleven central spines have a white to dark red or black tip and are 12 to 20 millimeters long. The flowers are yellow green to dull brown and reach a diameter of around 2-3 centimeters and up to 3 cm long, blooming from April to may. The ellipsoid fruits are green and 2.5 cm long with brown seeds. Chromosome count is 2n=22.[2]

Distribution

Plants are found growing in limestone ridges and Pinyon–juniper woodland in northwest Arizona, in San Bernardino County California, Nevada, and southwestern Utah at elevations between 1000 and 2400 meters. The plant is found growing along with Yucca brevifolia.[3]

Taxonomy

This plant was originally described as Mammillaria chlorantha by Engelmann in 1878. The plant was moved to Pelecyphora based on DNA sequence and morphological data in 2022.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Pelecyphora chlorantha (Engelm.) Stock". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  2. ^ "Escobaria vivipara var. deserti". LLIFLE. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  3. ^ "Escobaria chlorantha". University and Jepson Herbaria Home Page. 2025-12-31. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  4. ^ "New nomenclatural combinations and types for Cactaceae in Utah" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  • Data related to Pelecyphora chlorantha at Wikispecies