Aztekium

Morphological Summary

Genus of three extremely slow-growing cacti endemic to the gypsum cliffs of Nuevo León, Mexico. Their bodies have ribs with additional transverse folds that resemble the bas-reliefs of Aztec architecture, from which the genus name derives. They are the slowest-growing known cacti (millimeters per year), which, combined with habitat destruction and illegal collection, makes them extremely vulnerable. All three species are protected under CITES Appendix I.