FIGURE 1. Diagnostic characters among the taxa studied. A−C in ×Polascontria (Cactaceae), a nothogenus that represents the gene flow between Escontria and Polaskia

FIGURE 1. Diagnostic characters among the taxa studied. A−C: fruits, D−F: flowers, G−I: areoles on the stems, J−L: ribs of stems (Escontria chiotilla in the first column, natural hybrids in the second one, P. chichipe in the third column). A. Fruits of E. chiotilla (triangular, largest and papiraceous bracts - white arrow). B. Fruits of hybrids [papiraceous, short and broad, but not triangular bracts (white arrow), and spines (yellow arrow)]. Hybrids form normal fruits with seeds (in the left). Some fruits are abortive and smaller in the same individual hybrid (in the right). C. Fruits of P. chichipe (spines - yellow arrow). D. Flowers of E. chiotilla (yellowish and with triangular and large papiraceous bracts forming tubular to funnel shape with not revolute tepals). E. Flowers of the hybrid (shorter bracts than those of E. chiotilla, tepals are scarce, creamy and not revolute, but are more extended than in E. chiotilla). F. Flowers of P.chichipe (with spines but not bracts and tepals revolute and yellowish-green coloured). G. The stem of natural hybrids is similar in color, branch number and areole shape to those of E. chiotilla (H) and P. chichipe (I). J. Each stem branch in E. chiotilla has seven ribs as those of hybrid individuals (K), whereas P. chichipe can have up to nine ribs (L).