Anhalonium

Anhalonium Lem., ()
🌵 Author(s)
🌵 Published in Cact. Gen. Sp. Nov.: 1, 102, 110 (1839)
🌵 Type Anhalonium prismaticum
Etymology

Greek an- ‘without’ + Greek halōnion, used by Lemaire for ‘areole’ (Lemaire: “Etymologia. Ἀ, a priv[atif]; Ἁλωνιον, ου τό, areola, aréole“; see also Echinocactus horizonthalonius). Sometimes spelled Analonium. For the supposed absence of areoles on the tubercles (Lemaire: “tuberculis exareolatis”). Lemaire later regretted this choice of name. From his description of Anhalonium areolosum (Latin ārĕŏla ‘areole’ + Latin –о̄sus ‘full of’): “[I]f only we could, without causing disturbance in the nomenclature, change this now inaccurate denomination?” (Ill. Hort. vi. Misc.: 35. 1859).

Although Anhalonium is a synonym of Ariocarpus, the name was mainly associated with Anhalonium williamsii (= Lophophora williamsii) in the 20th century. The genus Anhaloniopsis was named after its similarity to that species. Anhalonine is an alkaloid isolated from Lophophora williamsii.

Ariocarpus retusus (Anhalonium retusum). Image credit: www.ariocarpus.info / GNU FDL
Ariocarpus retusus (Anhalonium retusum). Image credit: www.ariocarpus.info / GNU FDL

How to cite

Maarten H.J. van der Meer (2023 Nov 24). Anhalonium. Dictionary of Cactus Names. Retrieved from https://www.cactusnames.org/anhalonium