Eriosyce curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Katt.

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

4. Eriosyce curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Katt.

Cactus curvispinus Bertero ex Colla in Mem. Reale Accad. Sci. Torino 37: 76. 1834 syn. sec. Hunt et al. (2006). Basyonym.

≡ Cactus curvispinus Bertero ex Colla in Mem. Reale Accad. Sci. Torino 37: 76. 1834 syn. sec. Hunt et al. (2006) ≡ Echinocactus curvispinus (Bertero ex Colla) Gay, Fl. Chil. 3: 16. 1848 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Malacocarpus curvispinus (Bertero ex Colla) Britton & Rose, Cactaceae 3: 203. 1922 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Pyrrhocactus curvispinus (Bertero ex Colla) A.Berger, Kakteen: 345. 1929 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Horridocactus curvispinus (Bertero ex Colla) Backeb. in Kakteenkunde 1940: 51. 1940 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Hildmannia curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Kreuz. & Buining in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 50: 207. 1941 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) ≡ Neoporteria curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Donald & G.D.Rowley in Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. 28: 55. 1966 syn. sec. Kew WCVP (2019) Neoporteria curvispina (Bertero ex Colla) Don. & Rowl., Cact. Succ. J. (GB) 28: 55. 1966; Pyrrhocactus curvispinus var. mostazalensis F.Ritter, Kakt. Sudam. 3: 932. 1980 (nom. inval., Art. 34.1, 37.1); Pyrrhocactus curvispinus var. australis F. Ritter, Kakt. Sudam. 3:932. 1980 (nom. inval., Art. 34.1, 37.1).

Type.

Chile, Southern America , O’ Higgins Region, Cachapoal (Locotypus). Neotype (designated by F. Kattermann 1994): Colla, I. c.t. 16.2. [132] .

Iconography.

F. Kattermann, Succ. Pl. Res. 1, Pl. 6.5 and 6.6. 1994.

Morphological notes.

Stems dark green, subglobose to globose, not elongating with age; 8-12 cm diameter Roots fascicular. Ribs 14-16, well pronounced, 1-1.5 cm high, notched below areoles, tubercles chinned. Areoles with short wool, oval, 6 × 4 mm, 6 mm apart. Spines horn-coloured, turning grey, acicular, curved; 10-12 radials, curved sideward, 1-2 cm; 1-4 centrals, strongly curved upward, 2-2.5 cm. Flowers diurnal, funnel-form, 5 cm; pericarpel and hypanthium with small bract scales, axils with inconspicuous wool, upper ones with short fine bristles; perianth segments lanceolate, 6 mm wide, yellowish with a reddish mid-stripe of different width; nectary tubular; style reddish, stigma lobes yellow to pale red; ovary isodiametric to elongate. Fruits covered as for the flower, short barrel-shape, 1.5-2 cm, reddish to red brown; perianth remnant attachment area large, basal pore large; fruit wall thick. Seeds oval, 1.3 × 1.2 mm; testa blackish brownish, evenly tuberculate, not ribbed, cells high domed; hilum narrow oval; position oblique; micropyle in a groove.

Distribution.

The endemic species occurs from the Rio Maipo Valley (34°S, 70°W) to the Rio Maule Valley (36°S, 70°W) at strictly inland habitats between 1000 and 2000 m.

Conservation status.

The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of E. curvispina is estimated at <20,000 km2, with its populations severely fragmented due to landscape anthropization. There has been an estimated decrease in population size and the number of localities. Additionally, there has been a loss of habitat quality due to urban expansion, mining activities, forest fires, agriculture, livestock, and stump removal. We propose to classify the species as Vulnerable (VU) according to criteria B1ab(i,iii,iv).