Cochemiea guelzowiana is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. The species epithet guelzowiana honors the German cactus collector Robert Gülzow of Berlín.
Cochemiea guelzowiana is a perennial plant that grows fleshy, globose, at first solitary and then forming groups. The stems have a spherical, apically depressed, about 7 inches tall and 4-10 inches in diameter. Tubercules are conical and cylindrical. They do not contain latex. The plant has 1-6 thin central spines, needle shaped, yellowish red, 8 to 25 millimeters long. The 60-80 radial spines are long and twisted, about 15 mm long. The bell-shaped flowers are purple, more or less bright, up to 4 inches long and can reach 7 inches in diameter. The fruits are almost spherical, bright red or yellowish white, about 8 mm in length.[1]
This species is endemic to Mexico where it grows west of Nazas and north of Navidad Mine in Indé Municipality, Durango. Its natural habitat are hot deserts and grassy mountain tops on rocky outcrops at elevations of 1300- above sea level. Plants are found growing along Thelocactus bicolor subsp. heterochromus, Coryphantha longicornis, Stenocactus multicostatus, Echinocereus polyacanthus, Echinocereus pectinatus, Fouquieria splendens, and Cylindropuntia imbricata.[2]