Eriosyce robusta (F.Ritter) P.C.Guerrero & Helmut Walter, 2024

Walter, Helmut E., Cadiz-Veliz, Aron, Merino, Beatriz M., Villalobos-Barrantes, Heidy M. & Guerrero, Pablo C., 2024, Taxonomic dissection based on molecular evidence of the Eriosyce curvispina complex (Cactaceae): identifying nine endemic species from Central Chile, PhytoKeys 237, pp. 117-139 : 117

9. Eriosyce robusta (F.Ritter) P.C.Guerrero & Helmut Walter comb. nov.

Pyrrhocactus robustus F. Ritter, Succulenta (NL) 6: 65. 1960. Basyonym.

≡ Pyrrhocactus robustus F.Ritter in Succulenta (Netherlands) 1960: 65. 1960 syn. sec. Tropicos ≡ Pyrrhocactus horridus var. robustus (F.Ritter) in Kakteen in Südamerika 3: 947 ≡ Neochilenia robusta (F.Ritter) Backeb., Cactaceae 6: 3781. 1962 syn. sec. Tropicos ≡ Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta (F.Ritter) Katt., Eriosyce (Cactac.) Gen. Revis. Ampl. 1: 117. 1994 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. robusta (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley in Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 28: 58. 1966 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Neoporteria curvispina f. robusta (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley in Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 28: 55. 1966 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Pyrrhocactus horridus var. robustus (F.Ritter) F.Ritter, Kakteen Südamerika 3: 947. 1980 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) = Pyrrhocactus robustus var. vegasanus F.Ritter in Succulenta (Netherlands) 1960: 65. 1960 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Neochilenia robusta var. vegasana (F.Ritter) Backeb., Cactaceae 6: 3783. 1962 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Neoporteria tuberisulcata var. vegasana (F.Ritter) Donald & G.D.Rowley in Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 28: 58. 1966 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019).

Type.

Chile, Southern America , Valparaíso Region, Quillota, Ocoa, F. Ritter 239a (Holotype: U 0249318, digital image!). (Image available at https://bioportal.naturalis.nl/en/specimen/U__0249318) .

Iconography.

F. Ritter, Kakt. Sudam. 3: 1980; A. Hoffmann & H. E. Walter, Cact. Fl. Sylv. Chile 2nd Ed., Lam. 72b (as Eriosyce curvispina var. robusta ) 2004; F. Kattermann, Succ. Pl. Res 1, 1994.

Morphological notes.

Stems globose, somewhat elongating with age, 10-20 cm diameter Roots fascicular. Ribs 13-20, broad, obtuse and 1.5-3.0 high, deeply notched, tubercles with a long chin. Areoles 0.7-2 × 0.5-0.8 cm, 1-4 cm apart. Spines mostly stout, gray-brown, the shorter ones mostly straight, the longer ones somewhat curved upward; radial ones 7-12, 1-3 cm long; central ones 1-8, 1-4 cm. Flowers 4-5 cm, funnel-form; pericarpel and hypanthium with small scales, axils with inconspicuous white wool, pericarpel much elongated, brownish-red; perianth segments lanceolate, 0.5-1.0 cm, lower part purple or carmin, superior part pale yellowish; ovary elongated; style whitish, superior part pink. Fruits1-2 × 0.5-1 cm, long barrel-form; indumentum as for the flower; perianth remnant attachment area wide, basal pore large. Seeds 1.2 mm, round ovate, opaque, brownish blackish; testa coarsely tuberculate and ribbed; hilum nearly round, position ventrally oblique, micropyle in a groove.

Distribution.

Endemic species occurring in the region around the National Park La Campana (32°S, 71°W).

Conservation status.

It is estimated that the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of E. robusta is <5000 km2, with its population severely fragmented by urban centers, electric highways and agro-industrial crops. It is estimated there will be a decrease in the population size and number of localities, loss of habitat quality due to urban expansion and agro-industry, forest fires and stump removal. We propose to classify the species as Endangered (EN) according to criteria B1ab(i,iii,iv).