Cochemiea
| Cochemiea | |
|---|---|
| File:Cochemiea poselgeri.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Cochemiea |
| Species | |
| Notes | Updated classification following Breslin et al. (2021) and Joël Lodé. |
Etymology
The genus is named after the **Cochimí Indians**, the indigenous inhabitants of the central part of the Baja California peninsula, where the core species of this genus are endemic.
Description
Cochemiea has been significantly redefined. Originally described as a small group of 5 species with elongated stems and bird-pollinated (ornithophilous) red flowers, it now includes a much broader diversity of forms. Most species are globose to short-cylindrical, often clustering, and characterized by having at least one **hooked central spine** (though there are exceptions).
The flowers vary from the classic long, zygomorphic red tubes of the "old" Cochemieas to the small, funnel-shaped, bee-pollinated flowers of the newly included species (formerly Mammillaria series Ancistracanthae). The fruits are typically red, fleshy, and indehiscent, containing dark brown to black seeds.
Habitat
This genus is centered around the **Gulf of California**. It thrives in some of the most arid regions of North America, including the Baja California peninsula, the Sonoran Desert, and various islands. They are found from coastal dunes and rocky sea cliffs up to oak-pine woodlands at 1800 m.
Distribution
- Mexico: Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa.
- USA: Arizona, California, New Mexico.
Species
Following the major taxonomic revision by **Breslin et al. (2021)**, the following species are now recognized as members of Cochemiea:
The Core Cochemiea Group (Original)
The Expanded Group (Formerly Mammillaria)
- Cochemiea albicans
- Cochemiea angelensis
- Cochemiea armillata
- Cochemiea barbata
- Cochemiea blossomfeldiana
- Cochemiea bullardiana
- Cochemiea capensis
- Cochemiea cerralboa
- Cochemiea dioica
- Cochemiea estebanensis
- Cochemiea fraileana
- Cochemiea dioica
- Cochemiea grahamii
- Cochemiea guelzowiana
- Cochemiea insularis
- Cochemiea hutchisoniana
- Cochemiea mainiae
- Cochemiea microcarpa
- Cochemiea multidigitata
- Cochemiea neopalmeri
- Cochemiea phitauiana
- Cochemiea rectispina
- Cochemiea schumannii
- Cochemiea sheldonii
- Cochemiea swinglei
- Cochemiea tetrancistra
- Cochemiea thornberi
- Cochemiea verhaertiana
- Cochemiea viridiflora
- Cochemiea wrightii
- Cochemiea yaquensis
Notes
- Phylogenetic Breakthrough: For decades, these species were kept in Mammillaria due to their similar tubercle structure. However, DNA sequencing (Breslin et al., 2021) proved that they form a monophyletic clade distinct from Mammillaria sensu stricto.
- Conservation: Many species in this genus are narrow endemics to specific islands in the Sea of Cortez and are of high conservation priority.
