Copiapoa is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, from the dry coastal deserts, particularly the Atacama Desert, of northern Chile.
Description Copiapoa comprises 32 morphologically defined species and five heterotypic subspecies. The species in this genus form dense cushions of hundreds of large, individual plants or produce only solitary plants. The shoots are spherical or elongated cylindrical. The spines, which are usually present, are variably shaped. On the apex, the species are usually densely woolly-haired. The ribs are clearly developed. These species vary in form from spherical to slightly columnar and in color from a brownish to blue-green bodies. They have warty ribs and spiny areoles, and they usually produce tubular yellow flowers, which grow from woolly crowns on the apex in summer. They are bell- to funnel-shaped and open during the day. The short, circular pericarp is glabrous. The flower tube is short and broad. The small, smooth fruits contain large, shiny, black seeds.
Taxonomy Pilocopiapoa F.Ritter has been brought into synonymy with this genus. Some authorities also include here the genus Blossfeldia.
Species , Plants of the World Online accepted the following species. In the list, they have been separated into sections. Subgenus Image Scientific name Distribution Pilocopiapoa Copiapoa solaris Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) Copiapoa australis Chile (Atacama) Copiapoa laui Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) Mammillopoa Copiapoa humilis Chile (Antofagasta). Copiapoa sect. CinereiCopiapoa ahremephiana Chile (W. & SW. Antofagasta). Copiapoa gigantea Chile (Antofagasta to N. Atacama) Copiapoa cinerea Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama) Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa Copiapoa angustiflora Chile (SW. Antofagasta)Copiapoa aphanes Chile (SW. Antofagasta) Copiapoa atacamensis Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) Copiapoa calderana Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama) Copiapoa cinerascens Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama).Copiapoa decorticans Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama)Copiapoa desertorum Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) Copiapoa esmeraldana Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) Copiapoa grandiflora Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama). Copiapoa hypogaea Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama).Copiapoa leonensis Chile (Atacama).Copiapoa longispina Chile (Atacama) Copiapoa longistaminea Chile. Copiapoa marginata Chile (SW. Atacama to NW. Coquimbo) Copiapoa megarhiza Chile (Atacama). Copiapoa mollicula Chile (Atacama to NW. Coquimbo). Copiapoa montana Chile (SW. Antofagasta) Copiapoa rupestris Chile (Antofagasta).Copiapoa saxifraga Blando & PumarinoChile (Atacama) Copiapoa serpentisulcata Chile (SW. Antofaga to NW. Atacama). Copiapoa taltalensis Chile (SW. Antofagasta). Echinopoa Copiapoa algarrobensis Chile (Atacama)Copiapoa armata (F.Ritter) Helmut Walter & LarridonChile (N Coquimbo) Copiapoa coquimbana Chile (SW. Antofagasta to Coquimbo) Copiapoa corralensis Chile (Atacama) Copiapoa echinoides Chile (Atacama to NW. Coquimbo).Copiapoa fiedleriana Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Coquimbo) Copiapoa fusca Chile (Atacama).Copiapoa malletiana Chile (Atacama) Copiapoa pendulina Chile (Coquimbo) Copiapoa schulziana Chile (Atacama).Incertae SedisCopiapoa hoffmanniana Blando & PumarinoChile (Atacama)
See also Copiapó (the largest city of the Atacama region) Pan de Azúcar National Park
References
External links
From Caldera to Copiapo, a collection of images of various species Cactuspedia Copiapoa CactiGuide Copiapoa