Rhodocactus stenanthus
Rhodocactus stenanthus is a species of cactus that is endemic to Brazil. First described as Pereskia stenantha, it was transferred to Rhodocactus in 2016. Like all species in the genus Rhodocactus, and unlike most cacti, it has persistent leaves. In its native locality, it is sometimes used in hedges.
Description
Rhodocactus stenanthus grows as a small tree or a shrub, usually reaching high, occasionally, with trunks to about in diameter in large specimens. The young twigs, thick, have variable numbers of stomata. Mature stems develop grayish-brown bark. Like all species of Rhodocactus, and unlike most other cacti, R. stenanthus has persistent leaves, that are variable in shape and size. The very largest are up to long and wide, but more usually they are by. The fleshy leaves are often folded upwards along the midrib and have short petioles, long. The areoles bear leaves along with spines. The areoles on the twigs have up to seven spines, those on the trunks may have about 40, each up to long. The flowers are orange-red on the outside and pink inside and are borne in terminal or axillary inflorescences of 1–15 forming dense clusters. Individual flowers are urn-shaped and do not open widely, reaching only across. The fruits are variable in shape, long, green or yellowish-green when ripe, and contain many glossy black seeds. In its native habitat, R. stenanthus flowers in the spring and summer, from November to April.In all features other than the flowers, R. stenanthus closely resembles R. bahiensis. The shape, colour and orientation of the flowers suggests they may be pollinated by hummingbirds.