Myrtillocactus cochal

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

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

Description

Myrtillocactus cochal grows in the form of a shrub to a tree with richly branched, blue-green shoots, reaches a height of 1 to 3 meters and usually forms a short trunk. There are 6 to 8 ribs. The single, black central spine, which can occasionally be absent, is up to 2 centimeters long. The mostly 5 radial spines are greyish or blackish and 5 to 10 millimeters long.

The light green to whitish flowers have a darker central stripe, are 2.5 centimeters 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 centimeters.[4]

Distribution

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

Taxonomy

The first description as Cereus cochal was published in 1889 by Charles Russell Orcutt.[5] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Myrtillocactus in 1909.[6] 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. "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). p. 437. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  5. Orcutt, Charles Russell; History., San Diego Society of Natural (1889). "The West-American scientist". C.R. Orcutt. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  6. States., United (1908). "Contributions from the United States National Herbarium". Smithsonian Institution Press. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
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