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Stenocereus griseus

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Stenocereus griseus
S. griseus in Arashi Bay Coast Noord, Aruba
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Stenocereus
Species:
S. griseus
Binomial name
Stenocereus griseus
(Haw.) Buxb.
Synonyms [2]
  • Stenocereus eburneus
  • Lemaireocereus eburneus
  • Ritterocereus deficiens
  • Lemaireocereus deficiens
  • Cereus deficiens
  • Stenocereus victoriensis
  • Neolemaireocereus griseus
  • Ritterocereus griseus
  • Cereus griseus
  • Lemaireocereus griseus
  • Cereus eburneus

Stenocereus griseus, also known as the Mexican organ pipe, dagger cactus, pitaya, and pitayo de mayo, is a species of cactus.[3]

Description

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Stenocereus griseus is a tree-shaped cactus that grows to 6-9 meters tall with a clear trunk and upright green stems, about 9-12 centimeters in diameter, with six to ten ribs below the areoles.[2] It bears one to three central spines up to 1.5 centimeters long, the longest of which reaches 4 centimeters, and six to eleven marginal spines measuring 6-10 millimeters long.

This species produces white, funnel-shaped flowers that bloom at night and last until midday, with bent-back flower bracts. The flowers are about 10 centimeters long. Its spherical to elongated fruits are white, yellowish green, to red or dark purple, up to 5 centimeters in diameter, and covered with thorns that shed when ripe. The flesh is red.[4]

Distribution

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This species is found in Mexico in Oaxaca and Veracruz,[2] coastal Venezuela, Guajira Peninsula of Colombia and the ABC islands of the Dutch Caribbean.[5] It is found in scrub-lands.[1] Observations of this species have also been reported in the dry scrub-lands at the base of the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. However it has not been collected in this region.[6] In the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, this cactus blooms and fruits profusely during the dry season. It is a critical resource for bats, birds and other animals.[1]

Human uses

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Its fruit is edible to humans and is considered good tasting. It is planted as an ornamental and as a living fence in warm regions.[1][7] When used as a fence, it can be impervious to animals due to its spiny nature.[7]

Taxonomy

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First described as Cereus griseus in 1812 by Adrian Hardy Haworth, the species was later placed in the genus Stenocereus by Franz Buxbaum in 1961.[8] The specific epithet "griseus" derives from Latin, meaning 'gray,' in reference to the thorns of the species. The species is found in CITES Appendix II as a species of Least Concern. Its population is considered stable.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Stenocereus griseus (Haw.) Buxb. - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  2. ^ a b c Pitayo de Mayo (Stenocereus griseus)
  3. ^ candle cactus, Stenocereus griseus (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae)
  4. ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 602. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  5. ^ Stenocereus griseus On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family
  6. ^ "Neotropical Plant Portal - Stenocereus griseus". serv.biokic.asu.edu. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  7. ^ a b "Stenocereus griseus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  8. ^ Haworth, A.H. (1812). Synopsis Plantarum Succulentarum: Cum Descriptionibus, Synonymis, Locis, Observationibus Anglicanis, Culturaque (in Latin). Typis Richardi Taylor et Socii. p. 182. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
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