Ortegocactus

Ortegocactus is a monotypic species of cactus with a single species Ortegocactus macdougallii.

Description

Ortegocactus macdougallii forms loose cushions. The spherical to short cylindrical shoots are pale gray-green epidermis and have a diameter of 3 to 4 centimeters. The spirally arranged warts are low, somewhat flattened, rhomboid and tiny dotted. The areoles 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.

Distribution

Ortegocactus macdougallii is found 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 near the village of San José Lachiguirí. The specific epithet macdougallii honors Thomas Baillie MacDougall, the discoverer of the species. The first description as Ortegocactus macdougallii in the monotypic genus Ortegocactus was made in 1961 by Edward Johnston Alexander. 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.