Copiapoa hypogaea ( = hypogea )
(Syn: Copipoa barquitensis)

Copiapoa hypogea FR261
5km North of Chañaral, Antofagasta, Chile
 

Copiapoa hypogaea v. barquitensis FR 654  Near Chañaral, Barquito, 02 Antofagasta, Chile

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Copiapoa hypogea complex (This Taxon has lots of synonyms ( like many other cacti) with several controversial varieties and subspecies, and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):

• Copiapoa hypogea
• Copiapoa hypogea  "LIZARD SKIN"
• Copiapoa hypogea forma mostruosa cristata
• Copiapoa mollicula (hypogea 'mollicula')
• Copiapoa laui (hypogea var. laui)
• Copiapoa laui forma cristata  (hypogea var. laui f. cristata)

Scientific name:  Copiapoa hypogaea F. Ritter

Origin:  Two forms of C. hypogea are known from the neighbours of Chañaral, the fist (rare) at north of the town shows a rugose epidermid (the so called “Lizard skin”), the second near the town and in the south area with smooth epidermis (also known as C. barquitensis) this second form is more familiar in the collections.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.