Facheiroa is a small genus of columnar cacti in the family Cactaceae (order Caryophyllales), endemic to Brazil. The genus contains three accepted species, all native to the dry northeastern interior of Brazil known as the Caatinga and surrounding regions.
Plants in the genus grow shrubby or tree-like with heavy branching and a short trunk, reaching heights of up to 5 metres. The cylindrical stems carry 12 to 25 narrow ribs, armed with variable spines. A distinctive feature is the bristly cephalium — a specialised flowering zone of dense bristles and wool — which may be sunken into the stem or superficial along one side.
Flowers are tubular and open at night (nocturnal), covered with overlapping (imbricated) scales, with the floral cup and tube densely clothed in hair. The fruits are fleshy, spherical, and semi-transparent, turning green to brown or purple at maturity, with juicy pulp enclosing ovate, brown to black-brown seeds.
The genus has undergone taxonomic revision: genetic sequencing published in 2023 led to the reclassification of Leocereus bahiensis as Facheiroa bahiensis, and species formerly placed in the genus Zehntnerella have been folded into Facheiroa.
Distribution
Facheiroa is endemic to Brazil. All accepted species are native to the country, with the genus associated with the dry interior regions of northeastern Brazil.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus has been subject to recent revision. Genetic sequencing published in 2023 supported the reclassification of Leocereus bahiensis as Facheiroa bahiensis, though Plants of the World Online had not formally adopted this change as of April 2026. Species formerly placed in the genus Zehntnerella have also been reclassified into Facheiroa.
