Cochemiea pondii

Cochemiea pondii is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.^[2]

Cochemiea pondii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Cochemiea
Species:	C. pondii
Binomial name
Cochemiea pondii (Greene) Walton
Synonyms
Cactus pondii (Greene) J.M.Coult. 1894 Mammillaria pondii Greene 1889

Description

Cochemiea pondii grows initially as a solitary plant and later forms small groups. Its cylindrical shoots can reach 30 cm (12 in) in length and 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) in diameter. The conically arranged smooth warts have bristled axillae. Of the 4 to 5 central spines, one is always stiff, strongly hooked, whitish with a dark brown tip, and about 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long. The 20 to 30 slender marginal spines are white or occasionally brownish. The red, crooked flowers are up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long, with sometimes protruding stamens. The fruits are red.^[3][4]

Distribution

Cochemiea pondii is widespread in the Mexican state of Baja California and is found only on Isla de Cedros at elevations from sea level to 200 m (660 ft). Plants are found growing among Agave sebastiana, Echinocereus maritimus, Cochemiea goodridgei, and Ferocactus chrysacanthus.^[5]

Taxonomy

First described as Mammillaria pondii in 1889 by American botanist Edward Lee Greene, the specific epithet pondii honors US naval officer Charles Fremont Pond.^[6] Frederick Arthur Walton reclassified the species into the genus Cochemiea in 1899.^[7]