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Useful Tropical Plants

Pachycereus pringlei

(S.Watson) Britton & Rose

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cereus calvus Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.

Cereus pringlei S.Watson

Cereus titan Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.

Pachycereus calvus (Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose

Pachycereus titan (Engelm. ex J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose

Pilocereus pringlei (S.Watson) F.A.C.Weber

Common Name: Cardon Gigante

Pachycereus pringlei
Plant gowing in native habitat
Photograph by: Amante Darmanin
Creative Commons License
Pachycereus pringlei Pachycereus pringlei Pachycereus pringlei Pachycereus pringlei Pachycereus pringlei

General Information

Cardon gigante is a large, evergreen, succulent, tree-like plant growing up to 12 metres tall with a bole that can be 2 metres tall and up to 1 metre in diameter[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit and its stems which are used for fuel and construction.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Central America - Mexico.

Habitat

Often forming extensive forests in semiarid areas[
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height10.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of dry areas in the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to more than 1,000 metres. Young plants cannot tolerate temperatures falling to 0°c, though older specimens can resist occasional short-lived frosts down to -4°c[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Requires a sunny position, though young plants appreciate a little shade[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
]. Requires a well-drained soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit. The fruit is rich in pectin and is often used to make jellies[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
]. The pulp of the fruits and the seeds are made into a flour that is used for making tomales[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The seeds are dried or roasted, then ground into a flour[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. The reddish fruit is a round, fleshy berry about 5cm in diameter, covered with short tan spines.

Medicinal

It is probably this plant which is described by Clavigero (Historia de la California, 1789) under the name 'cardon.' Among other notes, he remarks that 'the missionaries found a method of utilizing the branches, for from a piece about two palms long they extracted by crushing the juice, which they boiled down, thus obtaining a balsam which is good for wounds and bruises[
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].'

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used as a living fence in Mexico[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. The prickly stems make a stock-proof barrier.

Other Uses

The stems are used for making huts[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The dried stems are used for fuel[
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings are possible, but are difficult to root[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pachycereus+pringlei>

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