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Notes for the Genus:

Ortegocactus

Etymology -Named after the Ortega family, who helped Tom MacDougall find this plant in 1951.
Ortegocactus is a cactus genus that consists of only one species that was discovered relatively recently in the second half of the 20th century. It grows in a very small area on limestone in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The plants begin as solitary stems which do not exceed 2 inches in diameter and as they age, form small clumps of several stems. The stems are tuberculate with gently-rounded tubercles topped with small areoles. Sines are grey-white with black tips. The overall appearance of these plants is more like a blob rather than a tidy round ball - especially when dehydrated.

Flowers are bright yellow and funnel-shaped at the top of the stem and feature a green stigma.

An interesting characteristic of this plant is the beautiful gray-green dermis, which is notably porous and has a skin-like appearance. Like so many of the small species of Mexican cacti, Ortegocactus is highly prized by collectors. However, as these plants age, they tend to develop rust-colored spots on them even in the care of the most accomplished growers.

Ortegocactus macdougallii


Common Name(s):
Synonym(s): Neobesseya macdougallii
To view publication details for this taxon and related synonyms Click Here.
To view a chart comparing alternate taxonomy Click Here.
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Distribution: Oaxaca - Mexico (North America)
Habit: Globose
Flower: YellowEncounterability: Common Worldwide
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Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Gene Schroeder's Private Collection

Photographer: Daiv Freeman

Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Daiv Freeman's Private Collection

Photographer: Daiv Freeman

Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Tony Marino's Private Collection

Photographer: Tony Marino

Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Craig and Denise Fry's Personal Collection

Photographer: Craig Fry

Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Ortegocactus macdougallii
O. macdougallii
Picture taken at: Private Collection -Baku city, Azerbaijan

Photographer: Ilham Alekperov
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*Currently 1 of 1 known species are represented on CactiGuide.com.


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