# Corryocactus > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Corryocactus > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Corryocactus.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corryocactus > Source revision: 1334901847 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Corryocactus*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [cacti](/source/Cactus) found in Bolivia, Peru and northern Chile. ## Description These plants are characterized by profuse branching from their bases, with fibrous or sometimes tuberous root systems. Their stems, typically 2 to 5 cm thick, exhibit varied growth habits: smaller species are erect, while larger ones are prostrate with upright tips, climbing over vegetation, or initially erect before drooping. One notable species can form columns up to 5 meters tall with stems measuring 10 to 15 cm in diameter. The stems feature typically four to ten ribs that are swollen at the areoles, which are themselves tuberculate and heavily spined. Central spines can be quite long, usually 3 to 5 cm, but occasionally reaching up to 15 cm or even 25 cm. *Corryocactus* flowers emerge singly from the areoles and open during the day. These flowers have short tubes and bloom widely, ranging from 2 to 10 cm in diameter. The perianth segments display a color spectrum from yellow to orange to red, with variation possible within a single species. Following fertilization, spiny, spherical fruits develop, measuring 3 to 10 cm in diameter. These fruits contain dark brown to black seeds suspended in a juicy pulp.[1] ## Distribution Most *Corryocactus* species grow at altitudes between 2000 and 3000 meters, though some can be found in lowlands or ascend to elevations of up to 4000 meters.[2] ## Taxonomy The genus was described in 1920 by American botanists [Nathaniel Lord Britton](/source/Nathaniel_Lord_Britton) and [Joseph Nelson Rose](/source/Joseph_Nelson_Rose) in their publication The Cactaceae. The name *Corryocactus* honors Thomas Avery Corry (1862–1942), an engineer for the Peruvian railway company Ferrocarril del Sur, whose work on the newly laid railway line led to the discovery of the first three known species.[3] The genus was formerly placed in the [tribe](/source/Tribe_(biology)) [Notocacteae](/source/Notocacteae). It has also been placed in the tribe [Echinocereeae](/source/Echinocereeae). A 2011 [molecular phylogenetic](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) study excluded the genus from the "core" Echinocereeae, commenting that it lay "outside of a well-supported larger clade in our analysis".[4] ## Species Species accepted As of January 2026 by [Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online):[5] Image Scientific name Distribution Corryocactus apiciflorus (Vaupel) Hutchison Peru Corryocactus aureus (Meyen) Hutchison Peru Corryocactus ayacuchoensis Rauh & Backeb. Peru Corryocactus ayopayanus Cárdenas Bolivia Corryocactus brachypetalus (Vaupel) Britton & Rose Bolivia Corryocactus brevistylus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Britton & Rose Chile, Peru Corryocactus chachapoyensis (Ochoa & Backeb.) Ochoa & Backeb. ex D.R.Hunt Peru Corryocactus dillonii A.Pauca & Quip. Peru Corryocactus erectus (Backeb.) F.Ritter Peru Corryocactus melanotrichus (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose Bolivia Corryocactus pulquinensis Cárdenas Peru Corryocactus quadrangularis (Rauh & Backeb.) F.Ritter ex D.R.Hunt, N.P.Taylor & G.J.Charles Peru Corryocactus serpens F.Ritter Peru Corryocactus squarrosus (Vaupel) Hutchison Peru Corryocactus tarijensis Cárdenas Bolivia ## Synonymy The following genera have been brought into synonymy with this genus: - *Corryocereus* [Fric](/source/Alberto_Vojtech_Fri%C4%8D) & [Kreuz.](/source/Kreuz.) (orth. var.) - *Erdisia* [Britton](/source/Nathaniel_Lord_Britton) & [Rose](/source/Joseph_Nelson_Rose) - *Eulychnocactus* [Backeb.](/source/Backeb.) (nom. inval.) ## References 1. Anderson, Edward F. & Eggli, Urs (2005). *Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon* (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 144-147. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1. 1. ["Tropicos"](https://www.tropicos.org/Name/40014593). *Tropicos*. Retrieved 2026-01-08. 1. Berger, Alwin (1924-07-18). ["The Cactaceae, Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . By N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose. The Carnegie Institution of Washington. Vol. I, 1919; Vol. II, 1920; Vol. III, 1922; Vol. IV, 1924."](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.60.1542.66). *Science*. **60** (1542): 66–67. [doi:10.1126/science.60.1542.66](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.60.1542.66). [ISSN 0036-8075](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0036-8075). Retrieved 2026-01-08. 1. Barcenas, Rolando T.; Yesson, Chris; & Hawkins, Julie A. (2011), "Molecular systematics of the Cactaceae", *Cladistics*. **27** (5): 470–489, [doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2011.00350.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2011.00350.x). [PMID 34875796](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34875796) 1. ["Corryocactus Britton & Rose"](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:296905-2). *Plants of the World Online*. 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2026-01-04. ## External links - [Corryocactus ayacuchoensis](http://holiday.monacoeye.com/jardinexotique/cactusphotos/page7-1026-full.html) photo - [Corryocactus brevistylus subsp. puquiensis](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/3979/1280/1600/sanqui2.jpg) photo --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Corryocactus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corryocactus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corryocactus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.