Taxonomy of the Cactaceae

Treatments in the 21st century have generally divided the family into around 125–130 genera and 1,400–1,500 species, which are then arranged in a number of tribes and subfamilies.

However, subsequent molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that a very high proportion of the higher taxa (genera, tribes and subfamilies) are not monophyletic, i.e. they do not contain all of the descendants of a common ancestor.

As of August 2023[update], the internal classification of the family Cactaceae remained uncertain and subject to change.

Detailed treatments produced in the 21st century have divided the family into around 125–130 genera and 1,400–1,500 species, which are then arranged into a number of tribes and subfamilies.

[9] Blossfeldia Cacteae Calymmantheae (i.e. Calymmanthium), species of Copiapoa and Frailea including members of Pachycereeae, Hylocereeae and Browningieae Rhipsalideae other core Cactoideae II, including members of Notocacteae, Trichocereeae, Cereeae and Browningieae The classification of the Cactaceae thus remains subject to change, from the genus level upwards.

The broad outlines of their cladogram agree with that of Hern et al. (2011), shown above, although some details are different.

[1] Pereskia A Pereskia B Maihuenia incertae sedis Cylindropuntieae Opuntieae Blossfeldia (Blossfeldieae) Cacteae incertae sedis Phyllocacteae Rhipsalideae Notocacteae Cereeae The table below shows how the genera recognized by Nyffler and Eggli are placed into their subfamilies and tribes (they also use some subtribes, not shown here).