| Myrtillocactus cochal | |
|---|---|
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| Spines | |
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| At the Jardin Exotique de Monaco | |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
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 |
| Binomial name | |
| Myrtillocactus cochal (Orcutt) Britton & Rose | |
| Synonyms | |
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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. Individuals can reach 3 m (10 ft), and are hardy to USDA zone 9b.
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.
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. Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose placed the species in the genus Myrtillocactus in 1909. Nomenclature synonyms are Cereus geometrizans var. cochal (Orcutt) K.Brandegee (1900) and Myrtillocactus geometrizans var. cochal (Orcutt) W.T.Marshall (1941).
References
- Burquez Montijo, A.; Felger, R.S. (2017) . "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.
- ^ "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.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Myrtillocactus cochal |
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| Cereus cochal | |