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ActaBot.Bras.vol.16no.1SoPauloJan.2002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062002000100004
ABSTRACT (Flora of the Pico do Jabre, Paraba, Brazil: Cactaceae juss.). This
work constitutes a systematic treatment of the Cactaceae family found in the
"Pico do Jabre", Paraba, Brazil. The study-area is the highest peak in the
Northern part of Northeastern Brazil and Consists of an isolated portion of humid
forest, one of the few in the State of Paraba, included in the the domain of the
Atlantic Forest. In the "Pico do Jabre" the Cactaceae family is represented by
three genera and four species: Cereus jamacaru DC. melocactus
ernestii Vaupel, Pilosocereus chrysostele (Vaupel) Byles & Rowley
and Pilosocereus gounellei (FACWeber) Byles & Rowley.
Key words
Introduction
The Cactaceae family has about 108 genera and 1,306 species, widely distributed
in tropical regions of the New World (Hunt 1999), occurring mainly in warm, dry
areas. Are generally xerophytic plants, filas with stem and succulent, spiny,
solitary and showy flowers branches.
The most recent and comprehensive classification for the group is that of Wallace
(1995), which divides the family into four subfamilies: Maihuenioideae,
Pereskioideae, Cactoideae and Opuntioideae. Isolated revisions have been made
to the genera melocactus (Taylor 1991) and Pilosocereus (Zappi 1994).
The Cactaceae have economic importance, mainly for ornamental and forage
value. With regard to regional agriculture, some species are used to feed cattle,
goats and sheep, particularly in the dry season. Andrade-Lima (1966)
highlighted Cereus jamacaru DC. between native species used for this
purpose. The dominance or subdomincia species of Cactaceae in the caatinga
vegetation physiognomy, mainly of the genera Cereus ,Opuntia and Pilosocereus ,
has been of great importance in feeding the local wildlife.
The present study aimed taxonomic treatment of the family Cactaceae of Peak
Jabre, as part of the "Flora of Peak Jabre" project, which is being conducted by
the Federal University of Paraba.
1. Cereus Mill.
Cereus jamacaru DC ., Prodr. 3: 467. 1828.
Fig 1A . Tree, 3-7 m tall. Cladodes multiarticulado, candelabriformes
ramifications. Translations crass, 4-7 ribs, angular-starry. Armed areolas, from
each other by 2-4 cm; rigid spines, acicular, gray to gold in different number and
size; radial 7-9, 1-2 cm long;. 8-10 plants, 1-6 cm long. Flowers anthesis, 1418cm compose, target-green, isolated, sessile, inserted above the areolas;.
Longer tube, funnel-shaped, length 7-9cm;. Pericarpelo 1.5-2.5 cm long;.
Numerous stamens fillets inserted in perianth, globose anthers. Berry 10-13 x 59cm, ovoid dehiscent, sucosa; epicarp glabrous, rosy red; funicular pulp,
mucilage, dawn; seeds 1.5-2.5 mm long, exposed in the mature fruit..
Brazilian species widely distributed in northeastern Brazil, occurring from
Maranhao to Bahia. Was found in the study area at elevations up to 800 m and
occurs in rocky areas, rocky soils and in clearings of the forest, exposed to the
sun. Nocturnal flowers, visited by moths and bats, from January to August. Fruits
from February to September.
Material examined: BRAZIL. Paraba: Mun. of Maturia, XII/1997 sterile, MF
Agra et al. 4424 (JPB, MO); ibid , IV/1998, fl.. fr., EA Rock & MF Agra 383 (IPA,
JPB).
rocks. Nocturnal flowers, January to September, with anthesis between five and
six o'clock, visited by small bats. Fruits from February to October.
Material examined: BRAZIL. Paraba: Mun. of Maturia, Peak Jabre,
I/1994 , sterile, MF Agra et al. 2836 (IPA, JPB); ibid. , I/1997, fl. Agra MF et
al. 3906 (JPB); ibid. , IV/1998 , fl. . fr, EA 377 Rock & MF Agra (JPB); ibid. ,
IV/1998, fl. fr., EA 378 Rock & MF Agra (IPA, JPB).
4. Pilosocereus gounellei (FAC Weber) Byles & Rowley, Cact. Succ. J. Gr.
Brit. 19 (3): 67. 1957. subsp.gounellei Fig. 1D . shrub, 0.8-1.5 m high;.
multiarticulados cladodes in candelabriformes, decumbent branches; cladodios
cylindrical, angular, 50-70cm compose, 9-11 ribs,. armed areolas differing from
each 1-1.5 cm , rigid spines, needle-like, gray or greenish in number and
different size: 12-15 radial, 1-3cm compose; 1-5 central, 3-6cm compr.. Flowers
anthesis, 6-8cm compose, isolated, sessile, inserted in the furrows protected by
silky trichomes cinreos;. Perianth funnel-shaped, greenish-target tube 3-6cm
compose;. Fillets short, inserted in perianth; subglobosas anthers; pericarpelo
0.6-1cm compr., ovoid. Berry 3-6 x 4-6cm, juicy, subglobose, dehiscent laterally;
epicarp glabrous, purplish, mucilaginous pulp funicular, purple, seeds ca. 2 mm
long., Obovoid to cordate, exposed in the mature fruit.
Species endemic to Northeast Brazil, occurring from Maranhao to Bahia, with wide
distribution in the bush, found in sandy-stony soils and rock outcrops. was found
at the base of the peak, at altitudes up to 800 m on granitic rocks. Nocturnal
flowers with anthesis at five o'clock in the afternoon, being visited by moths, from
February to September and fruits from March to October. However, it is believed
that the pollination of Pilosocereus is normally done by bats (Zappi 1994), but
this was not observed by the authors of this paper during development.
Material examined: BRAZIL. Paraba: Mun. of Maturia, Peak Jabre, IV/1998,
fl. fr., EA 379 Rock & MF Agra(JPB).
Thanks
The authors thank the following people: Dr. Nigel Taylor for reviewing the
manuscript and Dr. Daniela Zappi the suggestions; Carla S. Rocha Melo de Lucena
and illustrations by George Sidney Baracho; Dulce Gonalves Oliveira for technical
support. Finally, the authors acknowledge the partial financial support provided by
the National Geographic Society, O Boticario Foundation for Nature Protection and
MacArthur Foundation; CNPq / PNE by DTI grant of the first author
References
Andrade-Lima, D. 1966. Cactaceae of Pernambuco. Pp. From 1453 to
1458. In: Proceedings of the XI International Grassland Congress . So
Paulo, 1966. [ Links ]
Barroso, GM; Guimaraes, EF; Ichaso, C LF;. Costa, CG; Peixoto, AL & Lima, HC
1978 . Systematics of Flowering Plants of Brazil , v.1. EDUSP, Sao
Paulo. [ Links ]
Department of Biological Sciences, Pavilion Jorge Amado, UESC, Rod IlheusItabuna km 16, 45650-000 Ilheus, BA,
Brazil. EMail: emerson@jacaranda.uescba.com.br .
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