# Copiapoa

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

It comprises 32 morphologically defined species and five heterotypic subspecies. The species in the genus Copiapoa forms 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 body. 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

Species of the genus Copiapoa according to Plants of the World Online As of January 2023 separated according to sections.
| Subgenus | Scientific name | Distribution |
| Pilocopiapoa (F.Ritter) Doweld—Ritter | Copiapoa solaris (F.Ritter) F.Ritter | Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) |
| Pilocopiapoa (F.Ritter) Doweld—Ritter | Copiapoa australis (Hoxey) Helmut Walter & Larridon | Chile (Atacama) |
| Unplaced | Copiapoa laui Diers | Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) |
| Mammillopoa Helmut Walter & Larridon | Copiapoa humilis (Phil.) Hutchison | Chile (Antofagasta). |
| Copiapoa sect. Cinerei | Copiapoa ahremephiana N.P.Taylor & G.J.Charles | Chile (W. & SW. Antofagasta). |
| Copiapoa sect. Cinerei | Copiapoa gigantea Backeb. | Chile (Antofagasta to N. Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Cinerei | Copiapoa cinerea (Phil.) Britton & Rose | Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa angustiflora Helmut Walter, G.J.Charles & Mächler | Chile (SW. Antofagasta) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa aphanes Mächler & Helmut Walter | Chile (SW. Antofagasta) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa atacamensis Middled. | Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa calderana F.Ritter | Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa cinerascens (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa decorticans N.P.Taylor & G.J.Charles | Chile (Antofagasta to Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa desertorum F.Ritter | Chile (Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa esmeraldana F.Ritter | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa grandiflora F.Ritter | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa hypogaea F.Ritter | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa leonensis I.Schaub & Keim | Chile (Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa longispina F.Ritter | Chile (Atacama) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa longistaminea F.Ritter | Chile. |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa marginata (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose | Chile (SW. Atacama to NW. Coquimbo) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa megarhiza Britton & Rose | Chile (Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa mollicula F.Ritter | Chile (Atacama to NW. Coquimbo). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa montana F.Ritter | Chile (SW. Antofagasta) |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa rupestris F.Ritter | Chile (Antofagasta). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa serpentisulcata F.Ritter | Chile (SW. Antofaga to NW. Atacama). |
| Copiapoa sect. Copiapoa | Copiapoa taltalensis (Werderm.) Looser | Chile (SW. Antofagasta). |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa coquimbana (Karw. ex Rümpler) Britton & Rose | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to Coquimbo) |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa corralensis I.Schaub & Keim | Chile (Atacama) |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa echinoides (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose | Chile (Atacama to NW. Coquimbo). |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa fiedleriana (K.Schum.) Backeb. | Chile (SW. Antofagasta to NW. Coquimbo) |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa fusca I.Schaub & Keim | Chile (Atacama). |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa malletiana (Cels ex Salm-Dyck) Backeb. | Chile (Atacama) |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa pendulina F.Ritter | Chile (Coquimbo) |
| Echinopoa Doweld | Copiapoa schulziana I.Schaub & Keim | Chile (Atacama). |