Leptocereus grantianus Britton
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Authority
Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.
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Family
Cactaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - An undescribed Cactus of Porto Rico by N. L. Britton Leptocereus Grantianus, sp. nov. Branched at the base, and above, arching or suberect about 1.5 m. high, or lower. Joints 3-5-ribbed, up to 1 m. long, or longer, 3-5 cm. thick. Ribs of young joints thin, 1-1.5 cm. high, low-crenate, the small areoles felted, and bearing 1-3, minute, nearly black spines, only about 1 mm. long, or shorter, which disappear as the joints grow older, and the ribs thicker. Flowers solitary at the terminal areoles, 5-6 cm. long, nocturnal; ovary and flower-bearing distinct areoles, ovary about 1 cm. in diameter, the nearly obconic tube about 2 cm. in diameter below the spreading limb, the nearly black, circular areoles about 1 mm. long, the limb about 4 cm. broad, about one-fifth as long as the tube; outer perianth-segments linear, green, tipped by an areole like those of the tube and ovary; inner segments numerous, cream-colored, oblong-obovate, obtuse, about 8 mm. long; stamens many, with yellow anthers; stigma-lobes several, short fruit subglobose about 4 cm. in diameter. Culebra Island, Porto Rico, Major Chapman Grant, U.S.A., 1932. The type specimens (Britton, 9725) are deposited in the herbarium of The New York Botanical Garden. In habit, this plant, resembles Leptocereus quadricostatus, differing in the form of flowers, and in their characteristic areoles; it is more nearly unarmed than any other species of the Cereanae known to me. Plants obtained by major Grant and brought to Porto Rico, have flowered repeatedly at San Juan, and also in the collection of Professor George F. Anton at Mayaguez; I have studied these when in bloom. Mrs. Horne made a water-color painting of the plant at San Juan, and from this painting, from these plants and from specimens sent by Major Grant and Professor Anton, the description has been made. As observed by Major Grant, Professor Anton, and Mrs. Horne, the flowers open about 10 o'clock in the evening and are closed about 10 the next morning. Mrs. Horne's excellent water-color painting of a flowering branch was made in September, 1932. Through cross-fertilization by Professor Horne of the flowers which opened at the same time on the type plant, in the spring of 1933, a fruit was obtained, which nearly reached maturity before falling away. [Note included by Frances Horne: As observed from original plant transferred from Major Grant's home at El [Morro] to my portfolio. Violeta St. [Monteflores] and growing there for about 10 years. The plant propogated itself [repeatedly by ___ branches taking root at end of branch. Flowers abundant, but ___rare. F.W. Horne Dr. Britton wrote me that he planned to [have] this description ___illustration published in Addisonia in 1932. But owing to restriction in number of copies for ___ of this magazine, from four to two because of lack of finances, has obliged to postpone it. It has never been published as far as I know--certainly not the illustration. (Perhaps the description in Botanical Garden report). F.W. Horne]