Stenocereus griseus
| Stenocereus griseus | |
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| S. griseus in Arashi Bay Coast Noord, Aruba | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Genus: | Stenocereus |
| Species: | S. griseus
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| Binomial name | |
| Stenocereus griseus (Haw.) Buxb.
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| Synonyms [2] | |
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Stenocereus griseus, also known as the Mexican organ pipe, dagger cactus, pitaya, and pitayo de mayo, is a species of cactus.[3]
Description
[edit]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]
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Stenocereus griseus fence in Santa Cruz Aruba
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Distribution
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Stenocereus griseus (Haw.) Buxb. - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b c Pitayo de Mayo (Stenocereus griseus)
- ^ candle cactus, Stenocereus griseus (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae)
- ^ Anderson, Edward F.; Eggli, Urs (2005). Das grosse Kakteen-Lexikon (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. p. 602. ISBN 3-8001-4573-1.
- ^ Stenocereus griseus On-line Guide to the positive identification of Members of the Cactus Family
- ^ "Neotropical Plant Portal - Stenocereus griseus". serv.biokic.asu.edu. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b "Stenocereus griseus - Useful Tropical Plants". tropical.theferns.info. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ 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.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Stenocereus griseus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Stenocereus griseus at Wikispecies
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