This genus was named after the Ortega family, who helped Tom MacDougall find this plant. Ortegocactus is a cactus genus that consists of only one species, discovered relatively recently, in 1951, and grows in a very small area on limestone in Oaxaca, Mexico. These small cacti, which are characterised by a beautiful grey-green dermis, tend to form clumps as they age, and develop rust-coloured spots. Flowers are yellow and feature a green stigma. Extensive research (DNA sequencing) is needed to determine whether Ortegocactus should be considered a separate genus or included in another genus.
