''Cochemiea macdougallii'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

in the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

Cochemiea ''Cochemiea'' is a genus of cactus. The group was previously Synonym (taxonomy), synonymized with ''Mammillaria'', until Molecular phylogenetics, molecular phylogenetic studies determined that—when broadly Circumscription (taxonomy), circumscrib ...

''.

Description

''Cochemiea macdougallii'' forms loose cushions. The spherical to short cylindrical shoots are pale gray-green

epidermis The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and Subcutaneous tissue, hypodermis. The epidermal layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens and regulates the ...

and have a diameter of 3 to 4 centimeters. The spirally arranged warts are low, somewhat flattened, rhomboid and tiny dotted. The

areole In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cactus, cacti out of which grow clusters of Thorns, spines, and prickles, spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cactus, cacti, and identify them as a family distinct fr ...

s are woolly in the upper part, have thorns and are sometimes furrowed. The black to whitish, upright central spine has a dark tip and is 4 to 5 millimeters long. The 7 to 8 marginal spines are whitish with dark tips and are 5 to 10 millimeters long. The yellow, funnel-shaped flowers appear from the axillae. They open during the day, are 2 to 3 centimeters long and 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The flower cup is woolly, but has no scales. The dull red, dry fruits when ripe are spherical to slightly elongated and have a persistent flower remnant. They contain almost spherical, black to brown, dotted seeds. Ortegocactus macdougallii 02

Distribution

Cochemiea macdougallii is common in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where it grows on limestone cliffs.

Taxonomy

The species was found in the winter of 1951/52 by Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1895–1973) near the village of San José Lachiguirí. The specific epithet macdougallii honors Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1895–1973), the discoverer of the species. The first description as ''Ortegocactus macdougallii'' in the monotypic genus Ortegocactus was made in 1961 by

Edward Johnston Alexander Edward Johnston Alexander (July 31, 1901 – August 18, 1985) was an American botanist who discovered three species and one genus. He is the author or one of the authors of 205 entries in the International Plant Names Index. He was born in Ashevil ...

. It was the only species in Alexander's genus ''Ortegocactus''. ''Ortegocactus'' was later synonymized with ''Cochemiea'', but a name in that genus was only provided in 2021. Peter B. Breslin and Lucas C. Majure placed the species in the genus ''Cochemiea'' in 2021. Further nomenclature synonyms are ''Neobesseya macdougallii'' (Alexander) Kladiwa (1974) and ''Escobaria macdougallii'' (Alexander) V.John & Říha (1981).

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from1=Q109768007, from2=Q286888 macdougallii Flora of Oaxaca Plants described in 1961