Polaskia

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Cactaceae
Subfamilia: Cactoideae
Tribus: Phyllocacteae
Subtribus: Echinocereinae
Genus: Polaskia
Species: P. chende – P. chichipe
Name

Polaskia Backeb. (1949)

Type species: P. chichipe (Rol.-Goss.) Backeb.

Synonyms

Chichipia Backeb.
Heliabravoa Backeb.

References

Backeberg, C. 1949: Blätt. Sukkulentenk. 1 : 4.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Polaskia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Dec 30. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Polaskia. Published online. Accessed: Dec 30 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Polaskia. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Dec 30.
Catalogue of Life: 2020 Annual Checklist
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Polaskia in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Polaskia (named after American amateur Charles Polaski) is a genus of tree-like cacti reaching 4–5 m high, comprising 2 species. Both present primitive characteristics, but Polaskia chichipe is nearer to Myrtillocactus while Polaskia chende is nearer to Stenocereus. The genus is found in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca.
Synonymy

The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Polaskia:

Chichipia Backeb. (nom. inval.)
Heliabravoa Backeb.

Extant Species

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
	Polaskia chende	chende, chinoa	Oaxaca & Puebla Mexico
	Polaskia chichipe	chichipe, chichibe, chichituna	Oaxaca & Puebla Mexico