A new opuntioid cactus from the Cayman Islands, BWI, with a discussion and key to the genus Consolea Lemaire

A new subspecies of Consolea millspaughii is described from the eastern bluff of Cayman Brac and northern coastal terrace of Little Cayman (Cayman Islands, British West Indies). This taxon has been mistakenly identified as Consolea spinosissima since its first collection in 1938. However, the smooth surface of its stem segments, not being demarcated by a network of depressed lines, its pitted areoles, and the fairly reduced pedicellate area of the pericarpel set it apart from this Jamaican endemic. Because the novelty here described brings to three the number of Consolea taxa that are characterized by very closely set, pitted areoles, an informal C. millspaughii species-group is recognized. This assemblage of Western Caribbean opuntioids includes Consolea corallicola, C. millspaughii subsp. millspaughii, and C. millspaughii subsp. caymanensis. The new subspecies is described, illustrated, and compared with C. spinosissima and with kindred taxa within the species-group. A key to all species and subspecies of Consolea is provided.