Cipocereus is a small genus of columnar cacti in the family Cactaceae, order Caryophyllales, endemic to Brazil. Described by Friedrich Ritter in 1979, the genus was established to accommodate Brazilian cactus species that had previously been placed in the broader genera Pilosocereus and Cereus.
Plants in Cipocereus are bushy to tree-like, sometimes branched, and grow to heights of up to 3.5 metres. The cylindrical, somewhat woody stems range from 2 to 5 centimetres in diameter and bear 4 to 21 longitudinal ribs. Round white or brown areoles are distributed along the ribs, from which a few to many spines emerge — though spines can sometimes be absent and vary considerably in form.
The flowers are white, tubular, and open at night, sometimes persisting into the following day. A distinctive feature of the genus is that the pericarp and floral tube are coated with a thick blue-grey wax, giving the flowers and fruits a striking glaucous appearance. The fruits are spherical to egg-shaped, do not split open at maturity, and display an intense grey-blue colouration. Seeds are broadly oval, brownish-black to black, and measure 1 to 2 millimetres in length.
The genus comprises a small number of species, including Cipocereus bradei, Cipocereus minensis, and Cipocereus pusilliflorus, all native to Brazil.
Etymology
The name Cipocereus combines "Cipó" — a reference to Serra do Cipó, a mountain range in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where several species occur — with the Latin cereus ("wax candle" or "torch"), a traditional suffix for columnar cacti.
Distribution
Cipocereus is endemic to Brazil. The genus is closely associated with the rocky campos rupestres (rupestrian grasslands) and cerrado vegetation of the Brazilian highlands, particularly in the state of Minas Gerais.
Taxonomy Notes
Cipocereus was described by Friedrich Ritter in 1979. Prior to its recognition as a distinct genus, its constituent species were placed within Pilosocereus and Cereus. It is accepted within the family Cactaceae (order Caryophyllales) and currently comprises approximately 5–6 species according to GBIF.
