Cephalocereus tetetzo

Cephalocereus tetetzo is a species of cactus from Mexico.

Description
Cephalocereus tetetzo grows in a columnar shape with mostly branching shoots and reaches heights of up to 15 meters. A trunk with a diameter of up to 70 cm is formed. The gray-green shoots are 8 to 12 meters long and have a diameter of 18 to 30 cm. The 15 to 20 blunt ribs are slightly rounded. The central spine, which is usually single, is blackish and up to 5 cm long. The 8 to 13 blackish marginal spines are 1 to 2 cm long.

The bell- to funnel-shaped flowers appear near the tips of the shoots. They are whitish and 5 to 6 cm long. Its pericarpel and flower tube are covered with tubercles, scales, wool and bristles. The egg-shaped green fruits are up to 4 cm long and have thorns.

Distribution
Cephalocereus tetetzo is distributed in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca.

Taxonomy
The first description as Cereus tetetzo (spelled "Cereus tetazo") was made in 1896 by John Merle Coulter. The specific epithet tetetzo refers to the Spanish common name "Tetetzo". Léon Diguet placed the species in the genus Cephalocereus in 1928. Further nomenclature synonyms are Pilocereus tetetzo (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum. (1897), Cephalocereus tetetzo (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Vaupel (1909), Pachycereus tetetzo (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Ochot. (1922), Neobuxbaumia tetetzo (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Backeb. (1938) and Carnegiea tetetzo (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) P.V.Heath (1992).