Discocactus | |
---|---|
Discocactus bahiensis (lower left) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Tribe: | Trichocereeae |
Genus: |
Discocactus Pfeiff. |
Species | |
Discocactus albispinus |
Discocactus albispinus
Discocactus bahiensis
Discocactus catingicola
Discocactus ferricola
Discocactus heptacanthus
Discocactus horstii
Discocactus placentiformis
Discocactus pseudoinsignis
Discocactus silicicola
Discocactus woutersianus
Discocactus zehntneri
etc.
Discocactus is a genus of tropical cacti. The name comes from the ancient Greek diskos (=disc) because of its shape. Discocactus plants are endemic to southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and northern Paraguay. These species are in the risk of extinction in the wild.
The plants have a slightly flattened spherical shape. The areoles bear sharp spines. At the apex of the adult plants, there is a wooly cephalium, white or shaded with yellow or grey. The white nocturnal flowers appear on the sides of the cephalium. The fruits are pink or red and contain black seeds.