Reproductive biology of Ferocactus recurvus (Mill.) Borg subsp. recurvus (Cactaceae) in the Tehuacán‐Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico

Ferocactus recurvus subsp. recurvus, a barrel cactus endemic to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, exhibits self-incompatibility and relies on cross-pollination for reproduction, with fruit set reaching 100% under controlled conditions. The study, conducted across three semiarid sites in Mexico, revealed that native bees are primary pollinators, while flies, ants, thrips, and hummingbirds also visit flowers but do not effectively pollinate. Flowers last 2–5 days with stigma receptivity peaking on the second or third day. Nectar production is scarce, and seed germination rates are higher from cross-pollinated seeds compared to self-pollination. These findings underscore the species' dependence on specific pollinators for survival, providing critical data for conservation efforts in this UNESCO-listed valley.

Córdova‐Acosta, E., Zavala‐Hurtado, J. A., Golubov, J., & Casas, A. (2017). Reproductive biology of Ferocactus recurvus (Mill.) Borg subsp. recurvus (Cactaceae) in the Tehuacán‐Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico. Plant Biology, 19(5), 798–805. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12585