Cochemiea tetrancistra is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of desert habitat types.
This cactus generally has a single cylindrical stem a few cm wide and up to about tall and in diameter with tuberous roots. The cylindrical warts do not produce milky juice, and the axillae are covered with bristles.Each cluster of spines is made up of 3 or 4 dark, hooked central spines and many straight, white radial spines, the longest reaching in length. The 30 to 60 radial spines are hair-like, arranged in two rows, white with dark tips, and long. The flower is wide and pink to lavender in color. The fruit is red, shiny, long and fleshy and contains many black seeds coated in corky arils.[1]
Cochemiea tetrancistra is found in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora at elevations of 100 to 1500 meters.[2]
Originally described as Mammillaria tetrancistra by George Engelmann in 1852, the name tetrancistra comes from Greek words for 'four' and 'hook,' referring to the hooked central spines.[3] In 2021, Peter B. Breslin and Lucas C. Majure reclassified it into the genus Cochemiea.[4]