''Leuchtenbergia'' is a
genus of
cactus which has only one
species, ''Leuchtenbergia principis'' (agave cactus or prism cactus). It is native to north-central
Mexico (
San Luis Potosi,
Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to:
Places
*Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state
**Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state
**Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state
**Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state
**Chihuahua Mun ...
). The genus is named after
Maximilian Eugen Joseph (1817–1852), Duke of
Leuchtenberg and amateur botanist.
It is very slow-growing but can eventually grow up to 70 cm high, with a cylindrical stem which becomes bare and corky at the base with age. It has long, slender, grayish-green
tubercles 6–12 cm long, with purplish-red blotches at their tips. The tubercles are topped with papery spines, making the plant resemble an
agave; old, basal tubercles dry up and fall off. After four years or so, yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 5–6 cm diameter may be borne at the tubercle tips. The
fruit is smooth and green, 3 cm long and 2 cm broad. It has a large, tuberous taproot.
Taxonomy
It is related to the genus ''
Ferocactus'', and
hybrids have been created between these two genera.
File:Leuchtenbergia principis 5.JPG, ''Leuchtenbergia principis''
File:Leuchtenbergia principis 4.JPG, ''Leuchtenbergia principis'' seen from above
File:Leuchtenbergia principis 10.JPG, The flower
File:Leuchtenbergia principis 106.jpg, The fruit
File:Leuchtenbergia principis 122.jpg, Seeds
References
*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q8179748
Flora of Chihuahua (state)
Cactoideae
Monotypic Cactaceae genera