Lava cactus
| Lava cactus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Trichocereeae |
| Genus: | Brachycereus Britton & Rose |
| Species: | B. nesioticus |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachycereus nesioticus (K.Schum.) Backeb. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cereus nesioticus K.Schum. | |
The lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus) is a species of cactus and the sole species of the genus Brachycereus. The plant is a colonizer of lava fields, hence its common name. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands.
References
- Anderson, E. F. The Cactus Family. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 2001.
- McMullen, C. K. and Prance, G. Flowering Plants of the Galápagos. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London. 1999.
- Fitter, J., Fitter, D. and Hosking, D. Wildlife of Galápagos. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London. 2000.