Calymmanthium is a monotypic genus of primitive tree-like cacti from northern Peru.[1] The only species is Calymmanthium substerile (also known as C. fertile). It belongs to the tribe Lymanbensonieae. Calymmanthium is absolutely unique among flowering plants in the mode of its floral development. The young flower is completely encased within the plant's stem until it is fully developed, at which time a crack develops in the stem, allowing pollinators access.[2]
Calymmanthium | |
---|---|
Calymmanthium substerile | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Tribe: | Lymanbensonieae |
Genus: | Calymmanthium F.Ritter |
Species: | C. substerile
|
Binomial name | |
Calymmanthium substerile |
Diploperianthium F.Ritter (nom. inval.) has been brought into synonymy with this genus.
References
edit- ^ Nyffeler, R. (2002-02-01). "Phylogenetic relationships in the cactus family (Cactaceae) based on evidence from trnK/ matK and trnL-trnF sequences". American Journal of Botany. 89 (2): 312–326. doi:10.3732/ajb.89.2.312. ISSN 0002-9122. PMID 21669740.
- ^ Mauseth, James; et al. (2002). Cactus Odyssey. Portland: Timber Press. pp. 150–152.