Cochemiea tetrancistra

This cactus generally has a single cylindrical stem a few cm wide and up to about 25 cm (9.8 in) tall and 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) in diameter with tuberous roots. The cylindrical warts do not produce milky juice, and the axillae are covered with bristles. Each cluster of spines is made up of 3 or 4 dark, hooked central spines and many straight, white radial spines, the longest reaching 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in length. The 30 to 60 radial spines are hair-like, arranged in two rows, white with dark tips, and 6 to 10 mm (0.24 to 0.39 in) long. The flower is 2 to 4 cm (0.79 to 1.57 in) wide and pink to lavender in color. The fruit is red, shiny, 1.2 cm (0.47 in) long and fleshy and contains many black seeds coated in corky arils.^[2]

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  Flower of Cochemiea tetrancistra
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  Fruit
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  Plant

Cochemiea tetrancistra is found in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora at elevations of 100 to 1500 meters.^[3]

Originally described as Mammillaria tetrancistra by George Engelmann in 1852, the name tetrancistra comes from Greek words for 'four' and 'hook,' referring to the hooked central spines.^[4] In 2021, Peter B. Breslin and Lucas C. Majure reclassified it into the genus Cochemiea.^[5]

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  Plants growing in habitat southern section of the Mojave National Preserve
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  Plant growing in Joshua Tree National Park
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  Plant blooming in habitat in Washington, Utah