Pachycereus | |
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Pachycereus pringlei in Baja California, Mexico | |
Scientific 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. | |
Synonyms | |
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Pachycereus is a genus of large cacti native to Central America and Mexico. 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".
Taxonomy
Species
As of October 2023, Plants of the World Online accepted six species:
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Pachycereus eichlamii (Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Southeast, Nicaragua | ||
Pachycereus grandis Rose | Mexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla) | ||
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm. ex S.Watson) Britton & Rose | Indian comb | Mexico | |
Pachycereus pringlei (S.Watson) Britton & Rose | cardón cactus | states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora Mexico | |
Pachycereus tepamo Gama & S.Arias | Mexico (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.
Synonymy
These genera have been brought into synonymy with Pachycereus by some sources, although as of October 2023, not by Plants of the World Online:
Species that may be placed in Pachycereus include:
- Pachycereus hollianus (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Buxb. = Lemaireocereus hollianus
- Pachycereus lepidanthus (Eichlam) Britton & Rose = Lemaireocereus lepidanthus
- Pachycereus militaris (Audot) D.R.Hunt = Mitrocereus militaris
References
- ^ "Pachycereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- Salak, M. (2000). In search of the tallest cactus. Cactus and Succulent Journal 72 (3).
- "Pachycereus hollianus (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Buxb." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- "Pachycereus lepidanthus (Eichlam) Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- "Pachycereus militaris (Audot) D.R.Hunt". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
External links
- Media related to Pachycereus at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Pachycereus at Wikispecies
- Flora of North America: Pachycereus
- Cacti Guide: Pachycereus
- photos on www.AIAPS.org
Taxon identifiers | |
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Pachycereus |
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Cereus subg. Pachycereus |