(Copiapoa montana)
Copiapoa mollicula, known as lowland (F. Ritter), is a phanerogam species belonging to the Cactaceae family. Copiapoa mollicula is a variety of Copiapoa montana, and today according to the latest events and changes in the taxonomic life of the Copiapoa, to speak of C. mollicula is to speak of C. montana. It is true that Copiapoa mollicula grows north of Chañaral, while C. montanait does so as a typical locality a few kilometers further north, that is, north of Taltal. F. Ritter associated Copiapoa mollicula with Copiapoa grandiflora and C. montana, basically due to the characteristics of their flower. There are some interesting differences between C. mollicula and C. montana, the color of the spines, their flower and somewhat smaller seeds, the latter can only be differentiated at the microscope level. It is not easy to find an important margin of difference between C. mollicula and C. montana, rather their geographical separation is the important thing, unfortunately there are no important photographic records of C. mollicula and C. montana in its habitat, this lack of antecedents is relevant when it comes to delving into its morphological characteristics. In general, C. mollicula appears to have smaller flower, head size and seed length. To locate this Copiapoa, the antecedents that it had were hills north of Chañaral, at the height of the aerodrome. The truth is that the coverage area is quite wide, I knew that it was not easy to find it, because of the steep and difficult area with numerous quebradillas and many hills. Given this, it is striking how C. mollicula seeds are sold in the European market as if the plant were very common in our territory.