Biology:Stenocereus griseus

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Short description: Species of cactus

Stenocereus griseus
Stenocereus griseus 5176067-SMPT.jpg
Stem and fruit of Stenocereus griseus
Scientific classification edit
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 [1]
  • 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.[2]

Description

Habit

This tree-like cactus can grow up to 9 m tall, with stems up to 12 cm in diameter.[1] Depending on the cactus, the color of the fruit vary from white, yellow, red, and purple being the hardest to find.[citation needed]

Distribution

This species is found in Mexico in Oaxaca and Veracruz,[1] coastal Venezuela, Guajira Peninsula of Colombia and the ABC islands of the Dutch Caribbean.[3] It is found in scrub-lands.[4] 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.[5]

Ecology

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.[4]

Human uses

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.[4][6] When used as a fence, it can be impervious to animals due to its spiny nature.[6]

CITES status

The species is found in CITES Appendix II as a species of Least Concern. Its population is considered stable.[4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q288535 entry