In this paper we analyze the growth and early survival of two congeneric columnar cacti: the rare Neobuxbaumia macrocephala (with low population densities and a narrow distribution range), and the relatively common Neobuxbaumia mezcalaensis (with dense populations and a broader…

Cactus seedlings often establish under nurse plants which modify environmental conditions by increasing moisture and decreasing solar radiation, which may cause beneficial and detrimental effects, respectively, on seedling growth. Three soil moisture treatments (5%, 25% and 60%) and two solar…