Pachycereus is a genus of large cacti native to Central America and Mexico.[1] 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 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Echinocereeae |
| Genus: | Pachycereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose[1] |
| Type species | |
| Pachycereus pringlei | |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Taxonomy
editSpecies
editAs of October 2023[update], Plants of the World Online accepted six species:[1]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pachycereus eichlamii (Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Southeast, Nicaragua | ||
| Pachycereus grandis Rose | Mexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla) | ||
.jpg) |
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) | ||
.jpg) |
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.[2]
Synonymy
editThese genera have been brought into synonymy with Pachycereus by some sources,[citation needed] although as of October 2023[update], not by Plants of the World Online:[1]
Species that may be placed in Pachycereus include:
- Pachycereus hollianus (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Buxb. = Lemaireocereus hollianus[3]
- Pachycereus lepidanthus (Eichlam) Britton & Rose = Lemaireocereus lepidanthus[4]
- Pachycereus militaris (Audot) D.R.Hunt = Mitrocereus militaris[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "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
edit
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
