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]
| Myrtillocactus cochal | |
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| Spines | |
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| At the Jardin Exotique de Monaco | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Myrtillocactus |
| Species: | M. cochal
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrtillocactus cochal | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editMyrtillocactus 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
editMyrtillocactus cochal is found on the edge of the Sonoran Desert in the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur.[6]
Taxonomy
editThe 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Myrtillocactus cochal (Orcutt) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "Myrtillocactus cochal (Candelabra Cactus)". Succupedia. World of Succulents. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Ulmer. p. 437. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
- ^ Hunt, David R.; Taylor, Nigel P. (2006). The New Cactus Lexicon. Milborne Port: Hermes House. ISBN 978-0-9538134-5-2.
- ^ "Find Trees & Learn". University of Arizona Campus Arboretum. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ 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.
- ^ States., United (1908). "Contributions from the United States National Herbarium". Smithsonian Institution Press. Retrieved 27 August 2023.