Myrtillocactus cochal
Spines
At the Jardin Exotique de Monaco
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Myrtillocactus
Species:
M. cochal
Binomial name
Myrtillocactus cochal
Synonyms[2]
  • Cereus cochal Orcutt
  • Cereus geometrizans var. cochal (Orcutt) K.Brandegee

Myrtillocactus cochal, the cochal or candelabra cactus (a name it shares with other plants), is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to the Baja California peninsula.[2] Individuals can reach 3 m (10 ft), and are hardy to USDA zone 9b.[3]

Description

Myrtillocactus cochal grows in the form of a shrub to a tree with richly branched, blue-green branches, reaches a height of 1 to 3 meters and usually forms a short trunk with 6 to 8 ribs. Areoles are 1-3 cm apart with a single, black central spine, which can occasionally be absent, is up to 2 cm long and5 radial spines are grayish or blackish and 5 - 10 mm long.

The light greenish white flowers have a darker central stripe, are 2.5 cm long and have the same diameter. They are open both day and night. The spherical, red fruits are edible and have a diameter of 1.2 to 1.8 cm.[4][5]

Distribution

Myrtillocactus cochal is found on the edge of the Sonoran Desert in the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur.[6]

Taxonomy

The first description as Cereus cochal was published in 1889 by Charles Russell Orcutt.[7] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Myrtillocactus in 1909.[8] Nomenclature synonyms are Cereus geometrizans var. cochal (Orcutt) K.Brandegee (1900) and Myrtillocactus geometrizans var. cochal (Orcutt) W.T.Marshall (1941).

References

  1. ↑ Burquez Montijo, A.; Felger, R.S. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Myrtillocactus cochal". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152269A121529380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152269A121529380.en. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Myrtillocactus cochal (Orcutt) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Myrtillocactus cochal (Candelabra Cactus)". Succupedia. World of Succulents. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Ulmer. p. 437. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  5. ↑ Hunt, David R.; Taylor, Nigel P. (2006). The New Cactus Lexicon. Milborne Port: Hermes House. ISBN 978-0-9538134-5-2.
  6. ↑ "Find Trees & Learn". University of Arizona Campus Arboretum. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  7. ↑ Orcutt, Charles Russell; History., San Diego Society of Natural (1889). The West-American scientist. Vol. v. 6:no.43 (1889). C.R. Orcutt. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ↑ States., United (1908). "Contributions from the United States National Herbarium". Smithsonian Institution Press. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
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