Pachycereus

Pachycereus is a genus of 9–12 species of large cacti native to Mexico and just into southern Arizona, United States. They form large shrubs or small trees up to 15 m tall, with stout stems up to 1 m in diameter. Pachycereus comes from the ancient Greek παχύς (pachys) meaning "thick" and the Latin cereus meaning "torch".

Pachycereus
Pachycereus pringlei in Baja California, Mexico
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Echinocereeae
Genus: Pachycereus
(A.Berger) Britton & Rose
Type species
Pachycereus pringlei
Species

See text.

Species

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Pachycereus fulviceps (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) D.R.HuntMexico
Pachycereus gatesii (M.E.Jones) D.R.HuntMexico (Baja California Sur)
Pachycereus gaumeri Britton & RoseMorelos, Puebla - Mexico
Pachycereus grandis RoseMexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla)
Pachycereus hollianus (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Buxb.Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla)
Pachycereus lepidanthus (Eichlam) Britton & RoseGuatemala; Honduras
Pachycereus militaris (Audot) D.R.HuntColima, Guerrero, Jalisco and Michoacán states of México
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm. ex S.Watson) Britton & RoseIndian combMexico
Pachycereus pringlei (S.Watson) Britton & Rosecardón cactusstates of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora Mexico
Pachycereus tepamo Gama & S.AriasMexico (Michoacán)
Pachycereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Backeb.Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla)

P. pringlei is the tallest cactus species in the world, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m.[1]

Synonymy

These genera have been brought into synonymy with Pachycereus, although this is not always maintained:

References

  1. Salak, M. (2000). In search of the tallest cactus. Cactus and Succulent Journal 72 (3).
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