Quiabentia

Quiabentia
Quiabentia verticillata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Opuntioideae
Tribe:	Cylindropuntieae
Genus:	Quiabentia Britton & Rose
Type species
Quiabentia zehntneri
Species[1]
See Text

Quiabentia is a genus of cacti, closely related to Pereskiopsis.

Description

The tree-like or bushy xerophytic species of the genus Quiabentia have whorled, fleshy, round branches that produce flat, fleshy leaves. The leaves are broadly ovate to spatulate and up to 7 centimeters long. Their areoles are covered with glochids and numerous spines.

The almost terminal or terminal appearing, striking flowers are red or pink and open during the day. The flower cup has leaves, areoles, glochids and thorns. A flower tube is missing.

The fruits are elongated, fleshy and usually smooth. The large, circular and flattened seeds have a seed coat.^[2]

Taxonomy

One species of the genus Quiabentia is distributed in Brazil, the other in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

The first description of the genus was made in 1923 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in the appendix to the fourth volume of their work The Cactaceae. The type species of the genus is Quiabentia zehntneri.^[3]

Species

Species of the genus Quiabentia according to Plants of the World Online As of January 2023^[update]:^[4]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Quiabentia verticillata (Vaupel) Borg	Bolivia to N. Argentina
	Quiabentia zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Britton & Rose	Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais).

References