Cochemiea dioica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Genus: | Cochemiea |
Species: | C. dioica |
Binomial name | |
Cochemiea dioica (K.Brandegee) Doweld | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Cochemiea dioica, also called the strawberry cactus, California fishhook cactus, strawberry pincushion or fishhook cactus, is a cactus species of the genus Cochemiea . [3] Its common name in Spanish is biznaga llavina. [4] Temperature along with precipitation are consequential factors in distributing plant species. [5]
The cactus is found in the western Colorado Desert scrub including in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and in Coastal sage scrub habitats of Southern California; and in coastal chaparral and Sonoran Desert habitats of Baja California and Baja California Sur states on the Baja California peninsula of México. [6] [7] It grows from 10–1,500 feet (3.0–457.2 m) in elevation.
Polyploid wild plants of this species have been found in Mexico. Both tetraploid and hexaploid varieties have been recorded.
Cochemiea dioica possesses short, firm tubercles ending in the spines. Most of these spines are whitish and straight, but each tubercle has a longer central spine which is slightly curved and dark. [8]
A single plant can bear both male and female flowers, from mid-spring to mid-summer. Some plants may produce bisexual flowers as well, thus totaling three types of flower on a single plant. The flowers are white to cream in color and range from 10 millimeters (0.4 inch) to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) in length. [8]
The fruits produced are bright red and ovoid, often with one end thicker than the other and are edible and tastes like a cross between a strawberry and a kiwi. The seeds are small (0.6 to 0.8 millimeters), black, and pitted. [8]
The Kumeyaay people (Diegueño), of Baja California and Southern California, eat the raw fruits as a food source. [9]
Cochemiea dioica is cultivated by specialty cactus plant nurseries and by botanical gardens for plant sales. It requires very well-drained soil, and so is often grown in pots and in raised beds in drought tolerant gardens. [10] [11]
Mammillaria is one of the largest genera in the cactus family (Cactaceae), with currently 200 known species and varieties recognized. Most of the mammillaria are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest United States, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras. The common name "pincushion cactus" refers to this and the closely related genus Escobaria.
Fishhook cactus is a common name for any hook-spined species of the genera Mammillaria, Echinomastus, Sclerocactus, or Cochemiea. They are small cacti, usually growing up to 6-7 inches (20 cm) high, and are shaped similar to a barrel cactus. They are not to be confused with the fishhook barrel cactus of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The Fishhook cactus is a large category of around 150 species.
Ferocactus cylindraceus is a species of barrel cactus which is known by several common names, including California barrel cactus, Desert barrel cactus, compass barrel cactus, and miner's compass. It was first described by George Engelmann in 1853.
Cochemiea tetrancistra is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of desert habitat types.
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa is a species of cactus known by the common names silver cholla, golden cholla, and Wiggins' cholla. It was formerly named Opuntia echinocarpa.
Opuntia littoralis is a species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal pricklypear. It is sometimes called the sprawling prickly pear due to its short stems and habit of growing close to the ground. "Littoral" means "pertaining to the seashore".
Cochemiea multidigitata is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae that is endemic to San Pedro Nolasco Island in Mexico, growing on steep slopes. Cochemiea multidigitata sprouts a white to cream-colored flower from spring to early summer.
Ferocactus peninsulae is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus of the family Cactaceae.
Cochemiea thornberi is a species of cactus known by the common names Thornber's fishhook cactus and Thornber's nipple cactus. It is native to Arizona in the United States and Sonora in Mexico.
Cochemiea grahamii is a species of cactus also known by the names Arizona fishhook cactus and Graham's nipple cactus.
Cochemiea conoidea, common name Texas cone cactus or Chihuahuan beehive, is a species of cactus native to southern United States to central Mexico.
Cochemiea boolii is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae with pink-petaled flowers.
Cochemiea blossfeldiana is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.
Cochemiea poselgeri is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico
Cochemiea fraileana is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico This species is native to Mexico and can be found along the east coast of the southern part of Baja California Peninsula in Desert Scrub communities. They tend to grow in non-calcareous dry granite-based soil but can also grow in rocky habitats, either in rock fissures or directly on top of the rock surface even without the presence of soil. Thus, the mineral composition of the rocks in their habitat directly influences their abundance. The habitat of Cochemiea fraileana is home to succulent flora and is particularly rich in local endemics. Currently, no major threats to the species are known to exist.
Cochemiea schumannii is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.
Cochemiea albicans is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.
Cochemiea halei is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.
Cochemiea viridiflora, commonly known as the greenflower nipple cactus or the fishhook pincushion, is a species of Cochemiea found in Southern United States.
Cochemiea phitauiana is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.