# Corryocactus aureus

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***Corryocactus aureus*** is a species of *[Corryocactus](/source/Corryocactus)* found in and native to Peru.[1]

## Description

*Corryocactus aureus* is a cactus species that forms large colonies through underground shoots. Its stems are erect, unsegmented, and range in shape from cylindrical to club-shaped, reaching up to 30 centimeters in length and 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter. The stems have 5 to 8 ribs, up to 1 centimeter high, which are slightly notched on their backs. The epidermis is typically green, though it can sometimes appear purple or brown. The [areoles](/source/Areole) on the ribs bear awl-shaped spines that are brown to blackish. These include one or two central spines, which can grow up to 6 centimeters long, and nine to eleven radial spines of unequal length. The flowers are orange-yellow to orange-red and measure up to 4 centimeters long. The fruits are greenish to reddish and reach a diameter of up to 2 centimeters.[2]

## Distribution

This species is native to Peru, specifically the [Arequipa](/source/Arequipa) department. It is widespread in this region and primarily inhabits desert or dry scrub biomes on hillsides at elevations between 2500 and 3500 meters above sea level.

## Taxonomy

*Corryocactus aureus* was first described as Cactus aureus in 1834 by Franz Julius Ferdinand Meyen.[3] The specific epithet "aureus" means "golden" or "golden yellow," referring to the color of the species' flowers. In 1963, Paul Clifford Hutchison transferred the species to the genus *[Corryocactus](/source/Corryocactus)*.[4]

## References

1. ["Corryocactus aureus (Meyen) Hutchison"](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:66270-2#synonyms). *Plants of the World Online*. Retrieved 2026-01-04.

1. Anderson, Edward F. (2011). *Das große Kakteen-Lexikon* (in German). Stuttgart: Ulmer. p. 144. ISBN 978-3-8001-5964-2.

1. ["fr:salle-de-lecture \[Bibliothèque numérique du CF\]"](https://www.cactuspro.com/biblio/fr:salle-de-lecture) (in French). *Au Cactus Francophone*. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2026-01-07.

1. Eggli, Urs & Newton, Leonard E. (2004-03-11). *Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names*. Berlin; New York: Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-540-00489-9.

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