Nopalillo

Description

Disocactus macdougallii is a species of plant in the genus Disocactus in the cactus family (Cactaceae). The specific epithet macdougallii honors the North American botanist Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1895–1973). A common Spanish name is "Nopalillo". Disocactus macdougallii grows strongly branching with outspread shoots that are elongated, linear and bright green. They are 15 to 45 centimeters long, have serrated edges and are partially tapered at the base with a blunt tip and 2 to 5 centimeters wide. The areoles are small and thornless. The laterally appearing flowers are funnel wide, bright purple pink and 7 to 8 centimeters long and about 6.5 centimeters in diameter. Disocactus macdougallii is distributed in the Mexican state of Chiapas near San Cristóbal de las Casas above 2500 meters. The first description as Lobeira macdougallii was in 1944 by Edward Johnston Alexander. Wilhelm Barthlott placed the species in the genus Disocactus in 1991. Other nomenclatural synonyms include Heliocereus macdougallii (Alexander) Doweld (2002), Nopalxochia macdougallii (Alexander) WT Marshall (1946), and Nopalxochia macdougallii (Alexander) Bravo (1972, nom. illeg.). In the IUCN RedList of Threatened Species, the species is listed as " Endangered (EN) ". H. listed as critically endangered.