Cephalocereus tetetzo

Cephalocereus tetetzo is a species of cactus from Mexico.

Description

Cephalocereus tetetzo grows in a columnar with mostly branching shoots and reaches heights of up to 15 meters. A trunk with a diameter of up to is formed. The gray-green shoots are 8 to 12 meters long and have a diameter of. The 15 to 20 blunt ribs are slightly rounded with black spines. The areoles have a single central spine, up to long and 8 to 13 radial spines are long.
The bell- to funnel-shaped whitish flowers long appear near the tips of the shoots. Its pericarpel and flower tube are covered with tubercles, scales, wool and bristles. The egg-shaped green fruits are up to long and have thorns.

Distribution

Cephalocereus tetetzo is distributed in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca.

Taxonomy

The first description as Cereus tetetzo was made in 1896 by John Merle Coulter. The specific epithet tetetzo refers to the Spanish common name "Tetetzo". Léon Diguet placed the species in the genus Cephalocereus in 1928. Further nomenclature synonyms are Pilocereus tetetzo F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum., Cephalocereus tetetzo Vaupel, Pachycereus tetetzo Ochot., Neobuxbaumia tetetzo Backeb. and Carnegiea tetetzo P.V.Heath.