Cochemiea mazatlanensis

This species is characterized by its short, columnar, grayish-green stems that branch from the base, creating larger, clump-forming structures. Individual stems typically measure between 4 and 15 cm (5.9 in) in length and 2 to 5 cm (0.79 to 1.97 in) in diameter. The surface of these stems is adorned with conical tubercles, each about 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) long and arranged in a spiral pattern. Notably, these tubercles do not produce milky sap. The spaces between the tubercles (axils) are generally bare, though they may occasionally bear one or two short bristles. Atop each tubercle sits an areole, with spines. These areoles typically carry 1 to 4 central spines that are reddish-brown, 0.8 to 1.5 cm (0.31 to 0.59 in) long, and sometimes hooked and 12 to 18 radial spines that are white, straight, and 0.5 to 1 cm (0.20 to 0.39 in) long. The cactus produces tubular flowers that are carmine to purplish-pink in color, measuring approximately 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long and 3 cm (1.2 in) in diameter. These flowers are self-sterile, meaning they require pollen from another plant to produce fruit. The resulting fruits are reddish-yellow or brown and contain black seeds.^[4]

The plant is found growing in desert hills, dunes, and dry scrub biomes in the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Sinaloa and southern Sonora between sea level and 500 meters. Plants are found growing along with Stenocereus kerberi , Echinocereus subinermis subsp. ochoterenae, Mammillaria beneckei, Mammillaria bocensis, Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum, Opuntia decumbens, Stenocereus thurberi, Stenocereus alamosensis , Pilosocereus purpusii, Pilosocereus alensis and Acanthocereus tetragonus.^[5]

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  Habitat in Farallón, Jalisco, Mexico
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  Habitat in San Mateo, Jalisco, Mexico
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  Plant blooming in San Ignacio, Sinaloa