Background and Aims:

In southeastern Mexico floristic studies, and in particular those dealing with Hylocereeae, are scarce. A taxonomic floristic study of the Cactaceae family in Tabasco is presented to know the richness and distribution of its species, a list of native and cultivated species was generated and a key to identify the species for Tabasco is presented.

Methods:

The herbaria CSAT, MEXU, UJAT and XAL were consulted, as well as the pertinent taxonomic literature to have an approximation of the taxonomic diversity of Cactaceae in Tabasco. Field work was carried out in all types of vegetation in the state to obtain the necessary samples, which were deposited in the herbarium UJAT. With the samples collected and those reviewed in the herbaria, keys were made for the genera and species registered.

Key results:

There are seven genera and 14 species of cacti distributed in Tabasco, from which six are new records for the state. The genus Selenicereus is the most diverse, while the evergreen tropical forest and Tacotalpa municipality presented the greatest richness of species.

Conclusions:

The cacti in the state are poorly represented in comparison with Mexico’s north-central states, but there is a noticeable similarity in terms of species richness with the states of Campeche and Yucatán.

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