A natural hybrid population between Neobuxbaumia tetetzoand Cephalocereus columna-trajani(Cactaceae)

A supposed hybrid population between Neobuxbaumia tetetzoand Cephalocereus columna-trajani(Cactaceae) in a semi-arid ecosystem at Zapotitlán de La Salinas, in the Mexican State of Puebla, was investigated by analysing number of ribs, number of areoles per cm and number of branches. Tests for equality of means using the Games and Howell method and Stepwise Discriminant Analysis, indicated that the number of ribs and number of areoles per cm supported our hypothesis for the existence of these naturally occurring hybrids, which are intermediate and distinct from the parental species. Other qualitative characteristics which distinguished hybrids and parental species are highlighted, and the possible meaning of the phenomenon is discussed.