Praecereus is genus of cactus. It is sometimes included in the genus Cereus.

Praecereus
Right-hand plant is Praecereus saxicola (as Monvillea saxicola)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cereeae
Subtribe: Cereinae
Genus: Praecereus
Buxb.[1]
Species

See text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Monvillea Britton & Rose
  • × Prillea M.H.J.van der Meer

Description

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Plants have a bushy to tree-like species that are sometimes stretched out, mostly freely branched and reach a height of up to 6 meters. The slender, columnar to hanging shoots have 7 or more ribs with protruding, round and gray areoles from which needle-like or umbilical thorns arise.[2]

The robust, funnel- to bell-shaped flowers are white to yellowish green and open during the day. Its strong flower cup and flower tube are thick-walled, fleshy and often curved.[2]

The fleshy, short, ovoid fruits that split open lengthwise are red with a persistent flower residue and contain white flesh. The black, bumpy seeds are oblong and ovoid and somewhat compressed at the sides.[3]

Species

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As of October 2023, two species were accepted:[1][4]

Image Scientific name Distribution
  Praecereus euchlorus Bolivia and Paraguay
  Praecereus saxicola Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Praecereus Buxb." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  2. ^ a b "On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family". www.cactiguide.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  3. ^ "PRAECEREUS – THE LAST CACTUS CLASSIFICATION". 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  4. ^ Korotkova, Nadja; Aquino, David; Arias, Salvador; Eggli, Urs; Franck, Alan; Gómez-Hinostrosa, Carlos; Guerrero, Pablo C.; Hernández, Héctor M.; Kohlbecker, Andreas; Köhler, Matias; Luther, Katja; Majure, Lucas C.; Müller, Andreas; Metzing, Detlev; Nyffeler, Reto; Sánchez, Daniel; Schlumpberger, Boris; Berendsohn, Walter G. (2021-08-31). "Cactaceae at Caryophyllales.org – a dynamic online species-level taxonomic backbone for the family". Willdenowia. 51 (2). Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universitaet Berlin. doi:10.3372/wi.51.51208. ISSN 0511-9618.