Denmoza
| Denmoza | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Denmoza Britton & Rose[3] |
| Species: | D. rhodacantha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Denmoza rhodacantha (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose[2]
| |
| Synonyms[2][4] | |
| |
Denmoza is a monotypic genus of cactus with the sole species Denmoza rhodacantha,[5] synonym Echinopsis rhodacantha, native to northwest Argentina.[2]
Description
Denmoza rhodocantha starts out as a globular cactus and stays that way for quite some time before growing into a 0.5 to 1.5 m (1.5 to 5 ft) column with a diameter of 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in).[6] The 30 or more ribs are high and wide, with a width of 1 cm (0.4 in) at the base. The first areoles are confluent and bear brownish-red spines, later grey. The 8 to 10 radial spines are slightly bent. The areoles from which the flowers sprout also produce a series of long brown bristles as well as long spines up to 7 cm (2.8 in). The tubular flowers are scarlet. The fruits are spherical and contain shiny black-brown seeds with a diameter of about 1.3 mm (0.05 in).[7][8]
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Spines
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Plant grown in University of California Botanical Garden
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Plant growing in habitat in Uspallata, Argentina
Taxonomy
The first plants were probably discovered in 1821 by John Gilles near the city of Mendoza. They were given the name Cactus coccineus, but this has never been validly published. The species was first described as Echinocactus rhodacanthus in 1834 by Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck.[2][9] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose transferred the species to their newly established genus Denmoza in 1922.[2][10] As of November 2025, Plants of the World Online accepted the placement in Denmoza.[2]
Distribution
Denmoza rhodacantha is found in northwestern and western Argentina on the eastern slopes and foothills of the Andes in the provinces from Mendoza to Salta at altitudes of 800 to 2800 meters.
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Plate as Echinopsis rhodocantha in Blühende Kakteen - Iconographia Cactacearum Tafel 16 (1904)
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As Echinopsis rhodocantha from The Cactaceae (1919-1923) by Britton et Rose, Vol. III. (1922)
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A hybrid with Cleistocactus strausii, Huntington Desert Garden
References
- ^ Méndez, E.; Ortega-Baes, P. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Denmoza rhodacantha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T152121A121459048. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152121A121459048.en. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Denmoza rhodacantha (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "Denmoza Britton & Rose". The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "Denmoza rhodacantha (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose". World Flora Online. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "Denmoza Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "Denmoza rhodocantha". Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Ulmer. pp. 177–178. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
- ^ Backeberg, Curt (January 1983). Die Cactaceae : Handbuch der Kakteenkunde. 2. Cereoideae: (Hylocereeae - Cereeae [Austrocereinae]) (in German). Fischer. pp. 1043–1048. ISBN 3-437-30381-3.
- ^ Hortus dyckensis: ou catalogue des plantes cultivées dans les jardins de Dyck (in French). Arnz. 1834. p. 341. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ Britton, Nathaniel Lord; Eaton, Mary E.; Rose, J. N.; Wood, Helen Adelaide (1919). The Cactaceae: descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family. Washington: Carnegie Institution of Washington. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.46288.