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Pilosocereus millspaughii

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Pilosocereus millspaughii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Pilosocereus
Species:
P. millspaughii
Binomial name
Pilosocereus millspaughii
Synonyms[1]

Pilosocereus millspaughii, commonly called the Key Largo tree cactus,[citation needed] is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to Florida, The Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.[1] It was first described by Nathaniel Lord Britton in 1909 as Cephalocereus millspaughii.[2] It is now locally extinct in Florida due to sea level rise.[3]

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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It is a shrubby to arborescent, branched succulent which can reach heights of up to 7 m (23 ft). The main stem is 20 cm (7.9 in) wide, and the branches are 15 cm (5.9 in) wide.[4]

Generative characteristics

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The fragrant, cream-coloured flowers smell like garlic.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Pilosocereus millspaughii (Britton) Byles & G.D.Rowley", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, archived from the original on 2019-12-30, retrieved 2024-03-03
  2. ^ "Pilosocereus millspaughii (Britton) Byles & G.D.Rowley", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2024-03-03
  3. ^ Luscombe, Richard (9 July 2024). "Florida: tree cactus becomes first local species killed off by sea-level rise". The Guardian. Miami, Florida. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  4. ^ Pilocereus millspaughii. (2024, April 8). Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://levypreserve.org/plant-listings/pilocereus-millspaughii/
  5. ^ Harrison, K. (2024, July 9). Key Largo Tree Cactus Becomes First U.S. Plant Extinction Due to Sea Level Rise. Environment+Energy Leader. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/2024/07/the-first-local-extinction-in-the-u-s-linked-to-sea-level-rise-the-case-of-the-key-largo-tree-cactus/