The Cactoideae are the largest subfamily of the cactus family,
Cactaceae. Around 80% of cactus species belong to this subfamily. , the internal classification of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Cactaceae remained uncertain and subject to change. A classification incorporating many of the insights from the molecular studies was produced by Nyffeler and Eggli in 2010.
Various revisions have been published since, e.g. to the tribe
Hylocereeae and the tribe
Echinocereeae.
Classifications remained uncertain .
Tribes and genera
, the
National Center for Biotechnology Information
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is part of the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is approved and funded by the government of the United States. T ...
used the division of the subfamily into tribes shown below.
Some revisions to the circumscriptions of the tribes are also shown.
*
Blossfeldieae
**''
Blossfeldia''
*
Browningieae
The Browningieae are a tribe of cacti
A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' deriv ...
**''
Armatocereus'' – ''
Browningia'' – ''
Neoraimondia'' – ''
Stetsonia''
*
Cacteae
**''
Acharagma'' – ''
Ariocarpus'' – ''
Astrophytum
''Astrophytum'' is a genus of six species of cacti, native to North America.
These species are sometimes referred to as living rocks, though the term is also used for other genera, particularly ''Lithops'' (Aizoaceae). The generic name is der ...
'' – ''
Aztekium'' – ''
Coryphantha'' – ''
Cumarinia
''Coryphantha'' (from Greek, "flowering on the top"), or beehive cactus, is a genus of small to middle-sized, globose or columnar cacti. The genus is native to arid parts of Central America, Mexico, through Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas ...
'' – ''
Echinocactus
''Echinocactus'' is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 B ...
'' – ''
Echinomastus'' – ''
Epithelantha'' – ''
Escobaria
''Escobaria'', pincushion cactus or foxtail cactus is a genus of low-growing cacti that range from the southernmost parts of central and western Canada through northern Mexico, with one species in Cuba. The genus comprises about 23 species. The ...
'' – ''
Ferocactus'' – ''
Geohintonia
''Geohintonia mexicana'' (discovered in 1992) is a species of cacti, the only species in the genus ''Geohintonia''. This genus is named after its discoverer George S. Hinton. As its specific epithet suggests, the plant is found in Mexico (Nuevo Le ...
'' – ''
Glandulicactus
''Sclerocactus'' ("hard cactus", from Greek; refers to the hard, dry fruit) is a genus of cacti. It comprises about 15 species, the exact number depending on the authority. These species are very xerophytic. They are sometimes called 'fishhook ...
'' – ''Homalocephala'' (see ''
Echinocactus
''Echinocactus'' is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 B ...
'') – ''
Kadenicarpus
''Kadenicarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cactaceae. It is native to eastern Mexico. It has been synonymized with ''Turbinicarpus'' but molecular phylogenetic studies have supported its monophyly and separation from t ...
'' – ''
Leuchtenbergia'' – ''
Lophophora'' – ''
Mammillaria'' – ''
Obregonia'' – ''
Ortegocactus'' – ''
Pediocactus
''Pediocactus'' ( Greek: πεδίον (pedion) means "plain", "flat", "field") is a genus of cacti. The genus comprises between 6 and 11 species, depending upon the authority. Species of this genus are referred to as hedgehog cacti, though that ...
'' – ''
Pelecyphora
''Pelecyphora'' is a genus of cacti, comprising 2 species. They originate from Mexico.
''Pelecyphora'' is known for its medicinal properties and may have been utilized as a psychoactive in the same way as '' Lophophora williamsii''. It is kn ...
'' – ''
Rapicactus'' – ''
Sclerocactus'' – ''
Stenocactus
''Stenocactus'' is a genus of cacti in the Cactaceae family.
Synonymy
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with ''Stenocactus'':
*''Echinofossulocactus'' Britton & Rose
*''Efossus'' Orcutt
Orcutt is an unincorporated town an ...
'' – ''
Strombocactus
''Strombocactus disciformis'' is a rare species of cacti and the only species of the genus ''Strombocactus''. The plant originates from Central and Northeast Mexico.
Description
''Strombocactus'' is a monotypic genus with a strong turnip-like ...
'' – ''
Thelocactus
''Thelocactus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Members of the genus are native to the arid lands of Central and Northern Mexico.
Description
''Thelocactus'' species are globe-shaped, short and cylindrical. They ...
'' – ''
Turbinicarpus''
*
Cereeae
**''
Arrojadoa
''Arrojadoa'' is a genus of cacti, comprising 6 species and several varieties. It is named after the Brazilian botanist Miguel Arrojado Lisboa (1872–1932) who was superintendent of the Brazilian Railways at the time that Britton and Rose desc ...
'' – ''
Brasilicereus'' – ''
Cereus
Cereus, waxy in Latin, may refer to:
* ''Cereus'' (anemone), a genus of sea anemones in the family Sagartiidae
* ''Cereus'' (plant), a genus of cacti (the family Cactaceae)
* Ceroid cactus, any of a number of cacti with very elongated bodies, ...
'' – ''
Cipocereus
''Cipocereus'' is a genus of cacti from Brazil. These species were previously included in the genera '' Pilosocereus'' and '' Cereus''. Species
Synonymy
The genus ''Floribunda'' F.Ritter
Friedrich Ritter (9 May 1898 – 9 April 1989) was a Germ ...
'' – ''
Coleocephalocereus
''Coleocephalocereus'' is a genus of erect and semi-erect columnar cactus, cacti from Brazil. These species develop a cephalium with wool and bristles. They are common to the inselbergs of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, and can comprise a do ...
'' – ''
Melocactus
''Melocactus'' (melon cactus), also known as the Turk's cap cactus, is a genus of cactus with about 30–40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, western Mexico through Central America to northern South America, with some species along the ...
'' – ''
Micranthocereus
''Micranthocereus'' is genus of cactus. It originates from Brazil and includes about 11 species.
The two genera ''Austrocephalocereus'' Backeb. and ''Siccobaccatus'' P.J.Braun & have been brought into synonymy with this genus.
Species
, Plant ...
'' – ''
Praecereus
''Praecereus'' is genus of cactus
A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, ...
'' – ''
Uebelmannia''
*
Echinocereeae
**(''Acanthocereus'' is placed in Hylocereeae)
[ –'']Austrocactus
''Austrocactus'' is a genus of cacti with ten species endemic of southern South America, in Argentina and Chile.
They have solitary or branched bodies, the ribs are usually divided into tubercules (except ''Austrocactus spiniflorus''). The tall ...
'' – '' Bergerocactus'' – ''Carnegiea
The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Moun ...
'' – – '' Cephalocereus'' – '' Corryocactus'' – '' Echinocereus'' – ''Escontria
''Escontria'' is a genus of cactus. The only species is ''Escontria chiotilla'', the chiotilla or jiotilla. The species originates from Mexico (Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca, southern Puebla).
This is a tree-like cactus, up to 7 metres tall. I ...
'' – ''Jasminocereus
''Jasminocereus'' (meaning "jasmine-like cereus", referring to the flowers) is a genus of cacti with only one species, ''Jasminocereus thouarsii'', endemic to the Galápagos Islands, territorially a part of Ecuador. In English it is often called ...
'' – '' Leptocereus'' – '' Lophocereus'' – ''Myrtillocactus
''Myrtillocactus'' (from Latin, "blueberry cactus") is a genus of cacti. The genus is found from Mexico to Guatemala. The genus is best known with ''Myrtillocactus geometrizans''.
The genus ''Myrtillocereus'' Fric & Kreuz. (orth. var.) has bee ...
'' – '' Pachycereus'' – '' Peniocereus'' – ''Pfeiffera
''Pfeiffera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, found in Bolivia and northwest Argentina. There is some debate about the circumscription of the genus. It is in the Phyllocacteae tribe.
The genus name of ''Pfeiffera'' is in ...
'' – ''Pilosocereus
''Pilosocereus'' (from Latin, "hairy cereus") is a genus of cactus native to the Neotropics. Tree cactus is a common name for ''Pilosocereus'' species.
The commonly cultivated ''Pilosocereus pachycladus'' ( syn. ''Pilosocereus azureus'') is a bl ...
'' – ''Polaskia
''Polaskia'' (named after American amateur Charles Polaski) is a genus of tree-like cacti reaching 4–5 m high, comprising 2 species. Both present primitive characteristics, but '' Polaskia chichipe'' is nearer to '' Myrtillocactus'' while '' ...
'' – '' Stenocereus'' – ''Stephanocereus
''Stephanocereus'' is genus of cactus from Brazil, related to '' Arrojadoa''. This genus was monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one ...
'' – ''Strophocactus
''Strophocactus'' is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. Its status and circumscription remain somewhat uncertain, with the genus containing one to three species (not always the same ones). Molecular phylogenetic data suggest that it co ...
''
* Hylocereeae[
**'' Acanthocereus'' – '' Deamia'' – '' Disocactus'' – '' Epiphyllum'' – '']Kimnachia
''Kimnachia'' is a monotypic genus of cacti. Its only species is ''Kimnachia ramulosa'', synonym ''Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa'', which is native from southern Mexico to northern South America and also found in Jamaica.
Description
''Kimnachia ...
'' – '' Pseudorhipsalis'' – '' Selenicereus'' (including ''Hylocereus'') – '' Weberocereus''
*Lymanbensonieae
Lymanbensonieae is a tribe of cacti belonging to the Cactoideae subfamily. It was recently created after the genus '' Lymanbensonia'' was found to be sister to ''Calymmanthium''.
Genera
*''Calymmanthium
''Calymmanthium'' is a monotypic genus ...
**''Calymmanthium
''Calymmanthium'' is a monotypic genus of primitive tree-like cacti from northern Peru. The only species is ''Calymmanthium substerile'' (also known as ''C. fertile''). It belongs to the tribe Lymanbensonieae. Calymmanthium is absolutely unique ...
'' – ''Lymanbensonia
''Lymanbensonia'' is a genus of epiphytic cacti in the tribe Lymanbensonieae, found in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. The genus was recently reinstated after it was found to be unrelated to ''Pfeiffera''.
The genus ''Lymanbensonia'' is named aft ...
''
* Notocacteae
**'' Copiapoa'' – ''Eriosyce
''Eriosyce'' is a genus of cacti native to Chile. Description
They are spherical to cylindrical plants that rarely sprout. The plants reach heights of growth of up to 1 m and have a diameter of up to 50 cm. They form 7 to 30 ribs on which the tho ...
'' – ''Eulychnia
''Eulychnia'' is a genus of candelabriform or arborescent cacti, comprising between 6 and 9 species depending on the authority. These desert cacti can survive under very hot conditions—temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermo ...
'' – '' Frailea'' – '' Neowerdermannia'' – ''Notocactus
''Parodia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, native to the eastern slopes of the Andes in northwestern Argentina and southwestern Bolivia and in the lowland pampas regions of northeastern Argentina, southern Brazil, eastern ...
'' – '' Parodia'' – '' Rimacactus'' – ''Thelocephala
''Eriosyce'' is a genus of cacti native to Chile. Description
They are spherical to cylindrical plants that rarely sprout. The plants reach heights of growth of up to 1 m and have a diameter of up to 50 cm. They form 7 to 30 ribs on which the tho ...
'' – '' Yavia''
* Rhipsalideae
**'' Hatiora'' – ''Lepismium
''Lepismium'' is a genus of mostly epiphytic cacti, with a dozen species. They are found in tropical South America.
Synonymy
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with this genus:
*''Acanthorhipsalis'' (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
* ...
'' – ''Rhipsalis
''Rhipsalis'' is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the cactus family, typically known as mistletoe cacti. They are found in parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern regions of South America. They also inhabit isolated location ...
'' – ''Schlumbergera
''Schlumbergera'' is a small genus of cacti with six to nine species found in the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. These plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity, and can be quite different ...
''
* Trichocereeae
**''Acanthocalycium
''Acanthocalycium'' is a genus of cactus consisting of several species from Argentina. The taxon name comes from Greek ''akantha'' (meaning ''prickly'') and ''kalyx'' (meaning ''buds''), which refers to the spines on the floral tubes.
These plan ...
'' – ''Arthrocereus
''Arthrocereus'' is a genus of cactus, originating from southern Minas Gerais, Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At ...
'' – ''Aylostera
''Aylostera'', is a genus of cactus, native to central Bolivia and north western Argentina.
It was published in Anales Soc. Ci. Argent. vol.96 on page 75 in 1923.
It was once thought to be a synonym of ''Rebutia''.
The phylogenetic
In biolog ...
'' – '' Brachycereus'' – ''Cleistocactus
''Cleistocactus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to mountainous areas - to - of South America (Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina). The name comes from the Greek ''kleistos'' meaning closed because the f ...
'' – '' Denmoza'' – ''Discocactus
''Discocactus'' is a genus of tropical cacti. The name comes from the ancient Greek ' (=disc) because of its shape. ''Discocactus'' plants are endemic to southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and northern Paraguay. These species are in the risk of ...
'' – '' Echinopsis'' – '' Espostoa'' – '' Espostoopsis'' – '' Facheiroa'' – '' Gymnocalycium'' – ''Haageocereus
''Haageocereus'' is a genus of cacti endemic to the lower elevations of the extremely dry desert along the coast of Peru and northern Chile. Species
As of 2021 species include:
Natural Hybrids
Synonymy
The following genera have been bro ...
'' – '' Harrisia'' – ''Leocereus
''Leocereus bahiensis'' is a species of cactus and the only species of the genus ''Leocereus''.
Distribution
The cactus is endemic to Brazil, within Bahia state. It is found growing in the campos rupestres (rocky fields) montane savanna ecoregi ...
'' – '' Matucana'' – '' Mila'' – ''Oreocereus
''Oreocereus'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), known only from high altitudes of the Andes.
Its name means "mountain cereus", formed from the Greek prefix ' (, mountain) and the New Latin ', meaning wax or torch.
As they are covered wi ...
'' – '' Oroya'' – '' Pygmaeocereus'' – ''Rauhocereus
''Rauhocereus'' is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae) with nocturnal flowers. It is known from northern Peru (Rio Santa
The Santa River ( es, Río Santa) is a river in the South American Andes mountain range in the Ancash Region of northwes ...
'' – '' Rebutia'' – '' Reicheocactus'' – ''Samaipaticereus
''Samaipaticereus'' is a genus of cactus containing the sole species ''Samaipaticereus corroanus''. It is known only from East Andean Bolivia and Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional ...
'' – ''Weberbauerocereus
''Weberbauerocereus'' is a genus of ceroid cactus, considered to be intermediate between the genera ''Trichocereus'' and '' Cleistocactus''. The genus is named after August Weberbauer because of his extensive research in the Peruvian Andes. Spe ...
'' – ''Weingartia
'' Weingartia'' is a genus in the family Cactaceae, with species native to Bolivia and Argentina.
Distribution
Andes mountains of central and south Bolivia and northwest Argentina at elevations of 1600 – 3600 m.
Description
Plants usual ...
'' – ''Yungasocereus
''Yungasocereus inquisivensis'' is a species of cactus native to Bolivia, the sole member of its genus, ''Yungasocereus''.
It is a columnar cactus, appearing either as a tree or shrub, ranging up to 4–5 meters in height. The 6–7 cm diam ...
''
References
Caryophyllales subfamilies
{{Cactaceae-stub