''Myrtillocactus'' (from
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, "blueberry cactus") is a
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 ...
of
cacti
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, ...
. The genus is found from
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
to
Guatemala
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...
.
The genus is best known with ''
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
''Myrtillocactus geometrizans'' (bilberry cactus, whortleberry cactus, blue myrtle cactus, or blue candle) is a species of cactus in the genus '' Myrtillocactus'', native to central and northern Mexico.Germplasm Resources Information Network''Myr ...
''.
The genus ''Myrtillocereus''
Fric
The Royal Institute of Chemistry was a British scientific organisation. Founded in 1877 as the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland (ICGBI), its role was to focus on qualifications and the professional status of chemists, and its ai ...
& Kreuz. (orth. var.) has been brought into
synonymy
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...
with this genus.
Description
The largest plants in this genus can grow as tall as 5 meters.
This cactus tends to flower in the summer and creates edible purple berries.
Extant species
Cultivation
The cuttings, which will grow quickly, from this cactus need to be taken when the temperature is high enough or the cuttings will not root.
It is recommended that species should be kept dry and not under in winter.
[
]
There are many cultivar varieties from monstrose or crested forms.
See also
*× ''
Myrtgerocactus'' - a natural
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...
involving ''
Myrtillocactus cochal
''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 , and are hardy to USDA zone ...
''
References
Cactoideae genera
Cacti of Mexico
Flora of Guatemala
{{Cactus-stub