Cephalocereus
Cephalocereus
5
species Cactaceae
Morphological Summary
Genus of tall columnar cacti native to Mexico, world-famous for its type species, the "old man cactus" (C. senilis), whose stems are completely wrapped in long white bristles mimicking an old man's hair. The fertile apical zone develops a lateral pseudocephalium of dense wool from which nocturnal flowers emerge.
Distribution Mexico (Hidalgo, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Puebla); extremely arid limestone soils of the Mezquital valleys.
Conservation Overcollection of wild specimens for the succulent trade has decimated natural populations. C. senilis is listed on CITES Appendix II and Mexico's NOM-059.
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eco
Dominant SpeciesLong-lived
Cephalocereus columna-trajani (Karw. ex Pfeiff.) K.Schum.
Tehuacan Old Man Cactus
Specimen ID RN-CPHCR-00005
Origin Puebla y Oaxaca, México (Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán)
Type species
eco
Cephalocereus senilis
Old man cactus
Specimen ID RN-CPHCR-00001
Origin México (Hidalgo, Guanajuato)
Type Columnar cactus
eco
Crested Form
Cephalocereus senilis (Haw.) Schumann f. cristata
Crested Old Man Cactus
Specimen ID RN-CPHCR-00002
Origin Hidalgo y Veracruz, México — mutación de cultivo
Type crested form
eco
Monstrose Form
Cephalocereus senilis (Haw.) Schumann f. monstruosa
Monstrose Old Man Cactus
Specimen ID RN-CPHCR-00003
Origin Hidalgo y Veracruz, México — mutación de cultivo
Type monstrose form
eco
Cultivar
Cephalocereus senilis (Haw.) Schumann 'Yellow'
Yellow-spined Old Man Cactus
Specimen ID RN-CPHCR-00004
Origin Cultivar hortícola
Type cultivar