Cochemiea dioica
| Cochemiea dioica | |
|---|---|
| |
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[1] | |
| |
Cochemiea dioica, also called the strawberry cactus, California fishhook cactus, strawberry pincushion or fishhook cactus, is a cactus species of the genus Cochemiea.[2] Its common name in Spanish is biznaga llavina.[3] Temperature along with precipitation are consequential factors in distributing plant species.[4]
Distribution[edit]
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.[5][6] 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.
Description[edit]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
Subspecies[edit]
Recognized subspecies include:[1]
- Cochemiea dioica subsp. angelensis
- Cochemiea dioica subsp. estebanensis
Uses[edit]
The Kumeyaay people (Diegueño), of Baja California and Southern California, eat the raw fruits as a food source.[8]
Cultivation[edit]
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.[9][10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Cochemiea dioica (K.Brandegee) Doweld". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Calflora: Mammillaria dioica
- ^ IUCN Red List: Mammillaria dioica
- ^ Guisan, Antoine; Thuiller, Wilfried (September 2005). "Predicting species distribution: offering more than simple habitat models". Ecology Letters. 8 (9): 993–1009. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00792.x. ISSN 1461-023X.
- ^ efloras.org: Mammillaria dioica distribution map
- ^ Jepson
- ^ a b c efloras.org: Mammillaria dioica
- ^ University of Michigan, Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Mammillaria dioica
- ^ Desert Tropicals.com: cultivation information and synonymy
- ^ PlantFiles.com: cultivation of Mammillaria dioica (Strawberry Cactus)
External links[edit]
- CalFlora Database: Mammillaria dioica (fish hook cactus, strawberry cactus)
- USDA Plants Profile for Mammillaria dioica (strawberry cactus)
- Jepson Manual Treatment of Mammillaria dioica
- efloras.org: Flora of North America: Mammillaria dioica
- Mammillarias.net: Mammillaria dioica
- Mammillaria dioica — CalPhoto gallery
- Cochemiea
- Cacti of Mexico
- Cacti of the United States
- Desert fruits
- Flora of Baja California
- Flora of Baja California Sur
- Flora of California
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of the Sonoran Deserts
- Natural history of the Colorado Desert
- Plants used in Native American cuisine
- Garden plants of North America