Mitrocereus

Mitrocereus
File:Mitrocereus columna-trajani.jpg
Kingdom	Plantae
Family	Cactaceae
Subfamily	Cactoideae
Tribe	Cacteae
SubTribe
Genus	Mitrocereus
Species
Notes	Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015). Giant columnar cacti from Mexico, often confused with Pachycereus.

Etymology

The name is derived from the Greek mitra (mitre/hat), referring to the woolly cephalium at the top of mature plants, combined with Cereus.

Description

Mitrocereus consists of massive, tree-like columnar cacti that can reach over 10 meters in height.

• Stems: Very thick, upright, and typically unbranched or branching only from the base. They have numerous, well-defined ribs.
• Cephalium: Mature plants develop a pseudocephalium (a woolly, bristly area) at the apex or slightly on one side, from which the flowers emerge.
• Spines: Strong, greyish or brownish, often very dense on younger growth.
• Flowers: Nocturnal, large, and funnel-shaped. They are typically white or pale pink, designed to be pollinated by bats.
• Fruits: Globose, fleshy, and covered with small scales or wool.

Habitat

They grow in arid, tropical deciduous forests and xerophytic scrublands, often dominating the landscape with their massive size.

Distribution

• Mexico: Endemic to the states of Puebla and Oaxaca (Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley).

Species List

Following the classification of Joël Lodé (2015), the genus includes:

• Mitrocereus columna-trajani (Type species)
• Mitrocereus militaris

Taxonomy

The classification of these giants has been debated for decades. While many authors merge them into Pachycereus or Pseudomitrocereus, Joël Lodé (2015) maintains Mitrocereus as a distinct genus based on the unique structure of the floral areoles and seed morphology.