Name and distribution
Pelecyphora dasyacantha occurs naturally from western Texas to northeastern Mexico, extending south to Jalisco. POWO recognises the nominate subspecies and subsp. chaffeyi. The current combination dates from 2022 (formerly Escobaria dasyacantha). [2-WWW]
Chemia badanych nasion
In seeds described as Escobaria dasyacantha (now Pelecyphora dasyacantha), Chen and colleagues found lignin composed almost exclusively of 5-hydroxyguaiacyl units, designated 5H. Thioacidolysis yielded few typical G/S monomers, while NMR of whole seed walls revealed an extensive polymer. This was one of the first documented examples of natural lignin dominated by 5H. [Chen et al. 2013, p. 205–208, ryc. 4D–5]
The spectrum of the sample examined indicated almost 100% 5H units in the lignin fraction and about 98% benzodioxane-type linkages among those analysed. Both figures describe the composition and structure of the polymer in this sample. They are not the percentage of lignin in the whole seed. Chemical degradation yield was low because benzodioxane linkages release monomers poorly in the test used. [Chen et al. 2013, p. 205–208, ryc. 4D]
The study compared seeds with vegetative tissues, which retained typical G/S lignin. The distinctive seed polymer indicates differences in wall structure between plant organs. The material in the article was identified at species level. The result was not divided between the two subspecies currently accepted in POWO. [Chen et al. 2013, Chen et al., pp. 203–208. POWO, as of 11 October 2026] [2-WWW]
Related articles
Materials from the author's archive
The species also appears in Konrad Szychowski's private material archive. [Kaktologia 2009b, file p. 8] [Neciu b.d., file p. 1]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Escobaria dasyacantha [2-WWW]