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Nomenclatural novelties and a new species in Chilean Cactaceae

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DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.392.1.11

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 Phytotaxa 392 (1): 089–092 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Correspondence PHYTOTAXA
Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)

https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.392.1.11

Nomenclatural novelties and a new species in Chilean Cactaceae

PABLO C. GUERRERO1* & HELMUT E. WALTER2
1
Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales & Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160C, Concep-
ción, Chile; E-mail: pabloguerrero@udec.cl
2
The EXSIS Project: Cactaceae Ex-Situ & In-Situ Conservation, 31860, Emmerthal, Germany; E-mail: helmut_walter2@hotmail.com
*Author for correspondence

The taxonomy of Chilean Cactaceae is notoriously difficult (see e.g., Duarte et al. 2014). Molecular data, and phylogenetic
approaches, provided answer to better understand the natural classification of cacti (see e.g., Nyffeler 2002, Edwards 2005,
Nyffeler & Eggli 2010, Ritz et al. 2012, Schlumpberger & Renner 2012, Larridon et al. 2015, 2018). As part of an ongoing
revision of the Chilean Cacti, which is part of the “Modern Flora of Chile” initiative, nomenclatural novelties are needed
in Eulychnia Philippi (1860: 23), Leucostele Backeberg (1953: 36) and Maihueniopsis Spegazzini (1925: 86) (Cactaceae
Juss.).

Genus Eulychnia
According to the results given by Larridon et al. (2018) a population of Eulychnia from south of Rio Huasco Valley (informally
named “Eulychnia spec. aff. acida”) should be regarded as a new species since phylogenetic analyses revealed that this
taxon is more closely related to E. chorosensis Klaassen (2011: 172) and E. castanea Philippi (1864: 80) than to E. acida
Philippi (1864: 80). Eulychnia spec. aff. acida resulted sister to the rest of “Clade 2” and not clustered with E. acida samples
collected at south and north of the distribution of the specie, these results led us to propose this taxon as a new specie.

Eulychnia vallenarensis P.C. Guerrero & Helmut Walter, sp. nov.

Type:—CHILE: Region of Atacama, 20 km south of Vallenar, Panamericana Road km 645, 28.71338°S, 70.76097°W, 741 m. a. s. l.
Guerrero 1258 (holotype CONC185660!).

Diagnosis:—Eulychnia vallenarensis is similar to E. acida from which differs by a shrubby habit (1–1.5 m vs. arborescent
up to 6 m), semi-procumbent branches (vs. erect to ascending), shorter diameter (8–10 vs. 10–15 cm), with 8–10 ribs (vs.
9–16), and 1–5 radial spines per areole (vs. 1–10).
Description:—Plants shrubby, 1–1.5 m high, forming large mounds. Branches sub-procumbent, with superior portions
pointing upwards, 8–10 cm in diameter, yellowish green. 8–10 low ribs, 2.5–3 cm wide. Areoles with short grey felt, ca. 1
cm in diameter, 2–2.5 cm apart. Spines acicular, not numerous, new ones blackish, soon turning grey; 0–5 radials, 1–5 cm,
mostly on inferior part of areole; 1–3 central ones, 5–15 cm. Flowers subapical to lateral, 6–8 cm; tepaloids spathulate with
tips, always white, sepaloids always green; axils of bract-scales with scant, short and grey wool. Fruits mucilageneous, 5–7
cm, orange when mature, covered as for the flower. Seeds numerous, ca. 1.5 mm long; testa tuberculate and more or less
ribbed.
Etymology:—Species epithet refers to “Vallenar”, which is the main site around where the species occurs.
Distribution:—From north of Domeyko (29° S) to the Rio Huasco Valley (28.5° S) at strictly inland habitats between
600 and 1300 m.a.s.l.

Genus Leucostele
Schlumpberger & Renner (2012) showed that the genus Echinopsis is polyphyletic and split it into various genera, one of
which is Leucostele. Schlumpberger (2012: 29) proposed the new combination Leucostele coquimbana (Molina 1782: 170)
Schlumpberger (2012: 29). In the meantime, the old name Cactus coquimbanus Mol. had been rejected for being ambiguous
(Eggli & Walter 2012, Wilson 2016) and thus this taxon has to be renamed. The next available basionym for these shrubby
columnar plants occurring along the coast of the Coquimbo and Atacama Regions is Cereus nigripilis Philippi (1860: 23)
and, as a consequence of the rejection of the name Cactus coquimbanus, all combinations using this basionym have to be
abandoned too—including Leucostele coquimbana.

Accepted by Duilio Iamonico: 26 Jan. 2019; published: 12 Feb. 2019 89

 Leucostele nigripilis (Phil.) P.C. Guerrero & Helmut Walter, comb. nov. ≡ Cereus nigripilis Philippi (1860: 23)
≡ Trichocereus chiloensis (Colla 1826: 242) Britton & Rose (1920: 137) var. nigripilis (Phil.) Espinosa (1937: 242) ≡
Trichocereus nigripilis (Phil.) Backeberg (1959: 1145) ≡ Echinopsis nigripilis (Phil.) Friedrich & Rowley (1974: 96).
Lectotype (designated by Muñoz in Muñoz 1960: 92):—CHILE. Coquimbo, November 1853, Philippi 35 (lectotype,
SGO52682!).
Epitype (here designated):—CHILE. Coquimbo, Punta Teatinos, c 10 km. N of La Serena and 2 km from Panamericana
to the coast, Leuenberger & Eggli 2579 (CONC131947!).
Description:—Plants shrubby, 0.5–1.5 m high, branching basally or laterally from lying branches, first erect, later
semi-procumbent with ascending ends; branches slender, 4–8 cm diam. Ribs few, 8–13, deeply crenate. Areoles convex,
oval, 1.0–1.5 cm, with orange-brown or beige wool, later grey, 0.5–1.5 cm apart. Central spines 2–4, stout, straight or
somewhat curved, 2.5–12 cm; 10–20 radial spines, 1–3 cm, thinner. Flowers white, 8–12 cm, subapical to sometimes apical;
hypanthium greenish, bract scales tipped brownish-reddish, axils with dark wool and contorted hairs; style and stigma
whitish; stamens greenish. Fruits 4–5 cm, blackish-brownish, ovoid, somewhat tuberculate, covered as for the flower;
perianth remnant mostly persistent. Seeds 1.2–1.7 mm; hilum position ±basal.Note: The above description of the plants
matches Philippi’s original protologue very well.
Distribution:—From Coquimbo (30° S) to Tocopilla (22° 40 S), restricted to coastal plains and hills.
Notes on lectotype and epitypification:—The lectotype designated by Muñoz (in Muñoz 1960: 92) is ambiguous
since it combines flowers of Leucostele and Eulychnia. The contorted flowers of Leucostele are the ones with the long
and slender tube and a short globular pericarpel, while the stout flowers of Eulychnia have a short tube and a large conical
pericarpel.

Leucostele litoralis (Johow) P. C. Guerrero & Helmut Walter, comb. nov. ≡ Cereus litoralis Johow (1923: 157).
Neotype (designated by Faúndez and Kiesling: 237. 2007):—CHILE. Región V (Valparaíso), San Antonio, El Quisco. 5
November 1997. U. Eggli, B. E. Leuenberger & S. Arroyo–Leuenberger 3110 (neotype B, isoneotypes CONC, SGO, ZSS).
Description:—Plants (semi-)erect, 1–2 m high, forming dense clumps by branching from decumbent branches, these
grey-green, 8–12 cm diam. 20–25 well pronounced undulate ribs, to 1.8 cm broad and 0.8 cm high. Areoles 6–8 mm, with
dark grey felt. Spines all thick, straight, rapidly turning grey; 3–6 central spines, 2–3(–3.5) cm and to 20 thick, shorter radial
ones. Flowers 12–14 cm; hypanthium brownish-green, bract scales brownish-reddish, with short dark wool from axils;
nectary short. Fruits pear-shaped, pale brownish-reddish, covered as for the flower; perianth remnant deciduous, but style
persistent. Seeds small, isodiametric, 1–1.2 mm; hilum position ±basal.
Taxonomic annotations:—Leucostele chiloensis differs from L. litoralis by the arborescent habit, 2–6 m tall, erect
to ascending and thicker branches (12–15 cm in diameter), longer spines (12–15 cm), larger flowers (14–18 cm) and
inconspicuous whitish wool on flowers and fruits.
Distribution:—From 32° S down to 34° S at strictly coastal habitats.

Leucostele skottsbergii (Backeb. ex Skottsb.) P.C. Guerrero & Helmut Walter, comb. nov. ≡ Cereus skottsbergii Backeb.
ex Skottsb. Acta Hort. Goteb. 18: 146, t. 10. 1950.
Neotype (designated by Albesiano: 134. 2012):—CHILE. IV Región de Coquimbo, Dpto. Ovalle, Fray Jorge, 200 m a.s.l.,
November 1925, Werdermann 885 (neotype SI)
Description:—Tall shrubs, basally and laterally branching, 2–4 m, not mound-forming; branches erect to ascending.
12–18 cm diam. 16–21 obtuse ribs ca. 7–8 mm high, only somewhat notched. Areoles with brown wool, closely set in old
plants. Young branches with short stout spines, those on older branches longer and finer, mostly pointing downwards; central
spines 4–6, 4–6 cm, acicular, some contorted; 10–30 thinner radial ones of variable length; apical spines thin and flexible.
Flowers <12 cm; bract scales greenish-brownish, axils with short dark wool; nectary short. Fruits pear-shaped, green at
maturity, scale axils with tufts of dark hair; perianth remnant deciduous, but style persistent. Seeds ca. 1.5 mm, ovoid; hilum
position oblique.
Distribution:—From the Fray Jorge National Park (30.61° S) to the valley of the Quilimarí River (32° S).
Taxonomic annotations:—Leucostele chiloensis differs from L. skottsbergii by less numerous, rigid and notoriously
thick spines, larger flowers (14–18 cm length) and a conspicuous whitish wool on flowers and fruits.

Genus Maihueniopsis
Maihueniopsis leoncito (Werdermann 1929: 752) F.Ritter (1980: 875) ex P.C.Guerrero & Helmut Walter, comb. nov.
≡ Opuntia leoncito Werdermann (1929: 752).

90 • Phytotaxa 392 (1) © 2019 Magnolia Press GUERRERO & WALTER

Type:—CHILE. Prov. Atacama, Depto. Copiapó, Cord. Rio Turbio, Cerro Cadillal, 3800 m. a. s. l., 1926. Werdermann 944 (holotype
B).
− “Maihueniopsis leoncito” by F.Ritter (1980: 875) comb. inval. (Art. 41.5 of the ICN).

Taxonomic annotations:—According to Art. 41.5 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), Ritter’s new combination in Maihueniopsis
is invalid because it does not include the place of publication of the basionym.
Distribution:—Andes range between the latitudes of 27°30 S and 30° S.

Acknowledgements
We thank A. Marticorena and G. Rojas for providing access to CONC and SGO herbaria. This study was funded by the
Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) grant 1160583.

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