Copiapoa


Copiapoa is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, from the dry coastal deserts, particularly the Atacama Desert, of northern Chile.

Description

Copiapoa comprises 32 morphologically defined species and five heterotypic subspecies. The species in this genus form dense cushions of hundreds of large, individual plants or produce only solitary plants. The shoots are spherical or elongated cylindrical. The spines, which are usually present, are variably shaped. On the apex, the species are usually densely woolly-haired. The ribs are clearly developed. These species vary in form from spherical to slightly columnar and in color from a brownish to blue-green bodies. They have warty ribs and spiny areoles, and they usually produce tubular yellow flowers, which grow from woolly crowns on the apex in summer. They are bell- to funnel-shaped and open during the day. The short, circular pericarp is glabrous. The flower tube is short and broad. The small, smooth fruits contain large, shiny, black seeds.

Taxonomy

Pilocopiapoa F.Ritter has been brought into synonymy with this genus. Some authorities also include here the genus Blossfeldia.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species. In the list, they have been separated into sections.
SubgenusImageScientific nameDistribution
Pilocopiapoa Doweld—RitterCopiapoa solaris F.RitterChile
Pilocopiapoa Doweld—RitterCopiapoa australis Helmut Walter & LarridonChile
Pilocopiapoa Doweld—RitterCopiapoa laui DiersChile
Mammillopoa Helmut Walter & LarridonCopiapoa humilis HutchisonChile.
Copiapoa sect. CinereiCopiapoa ahremephiana N.P.Taylor & G.J.CharlesChile.
Copiapoa sect. CinereiCopiapoa gigantea Backeb.Chile
Copiapoa sect. CinereiCopiapoa cinerea Britton & RoseChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa angustiflora Helmut Walter, G.J.Charles & MächlerChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa aphanes Mächler & Helmut WalterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa atacamensis Middled.Chile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa calderana F.RitterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa cinerascens Britton & RoseChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa decorticans N.P.Taylor & G.J.CharlesChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa desertorum F.RitterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa esmeraldana F.RitterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa grandiflora F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa hypogaea F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa leonensis I.Schaub & KeimChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa longispina F.RitterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa longistaminea F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa marginata Britton & RoseChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa megarhiza Britton & RoseChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa mollicula F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa montana F.RitterChile
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa rupestris F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa serpentisulcata F.RitterChile.
Copiapoa sect. CopiapoaCopiapoa taltalensis LooserChile.
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa algarrobensis Katt.Chile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa coquimbana Britton & RoseChile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa corralensis I.Schaub & KeimChile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa echinoides Britton & RoseChile.
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa fiedleriana Backeb.Chile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa fusca I.Schaub & KeimChile.
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa malletiana Backeb.Chile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa pendulina F.RitterChile
Echinopoa DoweldCopiapoa schulziana I.Schaub & KeimChile.