Leia Scheinvar

Opuntia chiangiana, Una Nueva Especie de Cactaceae de Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract Se describe una nueva especie de Opuntia (L.) Miller (Cactaceae), endémica de la región de Cuicatlán, estado de Oaxaca, México. Frutos rojo-violáceos con espinas largas, funículos semi-secos de paredes comestibles que no se desprenden de los cladodios cuando maduran, no son comidos por pájaros debido a su sabor agridulce (conocidos como xoconostles o xoco-tunas). Se compara con tres especies simpátricas descritas con anterioridad: O. tehuacana S. Arias & U. Guzmán, O. parviclada S. Arias & Gama y O. olmeca Joel Pérez, J. Reyes & F. Brachet. Opuntia chiangiana Scheinvar & Manzanero es ubicada en la serie Heliabravoanae Scheinvar con base en sus frutos ácidos.

Opuntia gallegiana, una Nueva Especie Productora de Xoconostle de Zacatecas, México (Cactaceae)

Abstract.  We describe a new species of Opuntia Mill. (Cactaceae), endemic to the region of Sain Alto, from the municipio of Sain Alto, Zacatecas, Mexico. The locals call it zarco or xoconostle (in nahuatl, “xoco” = “acid”; “noxtle” = “tuna”). The new taxon is a tree, its trunk scaly, black in color, with tufts of white short bristles. The first woody branch is parallel to the ground: the epidermis has short trichomes, the areoles of the cladodes are arranged in 16 to 18 series, spines are (three)six to eight, emerging from the lower and lateral sides on all areoles, acicular, 0.6–1.6 cm long, reflexed, the lateral ones horizontal, spines are white in color with an amber base and apex. The flowers are pale yellow to greenish and the pericarpel is pale green, powdery; the fruits are pale pink, the exterior walls very thin, spineless, the inner walls thick, pale pink in color, acidic, and persistent on the cladodes when mature; seeds disposed in the center of the fruit, with dry funiculi, rose in color. The new species is compared with four sympatric species with trichomes on the epidermis and all producing xoconostles: O. guilanchi Griffiths, O. leucotricha DC., O. oligacantha C. F. Först., and O. spinulifera Salm-Dyck. The new species is assigned to Opuntia ser. Leucotrichae Britton & Rose, which includes three species with pubescent epidermis and acidic fruits.

Opuntia tezontepecana, una Nueva Especie de Cactaceae del Estado de Hidalgo, México

Abstract. A new species of Opuntia Mill. (Cactaceae), endemic to the region of Villa de Tezontepec, in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, is described. Farmers in the region call it “winter xoconostle” (in náhuatl, “xoco” = “acid”; “noxtle” = “tunas”). Opuntia tezontepecana Gallegos-Vázquez & Scheinvar is compared with the two sympatric species that have a glabrous epidermis to the unaided eye, but are pulverulent under SEM: O. joconostle F. A. C. Weber and O. matudae Scheinvar, both xoconostles. We observed the following distinctive characteristics in the new species: the mature cladodes as widely elliptic, the areoles in eight or nine series, spines on all areoles; spines and glochids structurally different from those of the sympatric species; the pericarpel with inconspicuous tubercles, without spines, but the superior ones with one or two bristles; fruits ellipsoid, with the floral scar slightly sunken, with a shiny epidermis, light green with red-orange spots, wide walls, acidic, rose-colored, edible; its funicles dry or semi-dry and tasteless, and characteristic seeds. Birds only pierce the walls of the fruit and eat the dry or semi-dry funicles. Fruits remain on the cladodes for 15 months or more.