Stenocereus pruinosus

Stenocereus pruinosus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Mexico and occurs in the states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca.[1][2]

Stenocereus pruinosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Stenocereus
Species:
S. pruinosus
Binomial name
Stenocereus pruinosus
(Otto ex Pfeiff.) Buxb.
Synonyms
  • Echinocactus pruinosus
  • Cactus pruinosus
  • Cereus pruinosus
  • Lemaireocereus pruinosus
  • Ritterocereus pruinosus
  • Rathbunia pruinosa

Description

Stenocereus pruinosus grows in the form of a tree with sparsely to richly branching stems and reaches a size of 4-5 m in height. A clear trunk is usually formed. It has a light glaucous trunk with dark green shoots and they are 8 to 12 cm in diameter. There are six (rarely five to eight) corrugated ribs. The areoles with three to nine grayish central spines 2 to 3 cm (rarely up to 5 cm) long. The five to nine (rarely up to twelve) radial spines are also grayish in color and usually less than 15 millimeters. Funnel-shaped flowers, white, up to 9 cm long with the flowers appearing near the tips of the shoots. They open at night and are open until the next day. The elongated green fruit, tinged with red, 5 to 8 cm long and can reach a diameter of 5 cm. The flesh is red.[3]

Distribution

Stenocereus pruinosus is distributed in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Veracruz at an altitude of 800 to 1900 m.

Uses

Because of its edible fruit, this species is a valuable food source in its native range, Mexico, being harvested and sold in many rural markets.[1][4]

References
  1. Arreola, H. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Stenocereus pruinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152139A121580469. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152139A121580469.en.
  2. "Stenocereus pruinosus". llifle.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  3. Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). p. 603–604. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
  4. "Learn2Grow". learn2grow.com. Retrieved 2017-07-11.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.