Acanthocereus hirschtianus
(K.Schum.) Lodé
Cactaceae
Cereus guatemalensis (Britton & Rose) Vaupel
Cereus hirschtianus K.Schum.
Cereus neumannii K.Schum.
Cereus nyctago A.Berger
Cereus triangularis guatemalensis (Britton & Rose) Eichlam ex Schelle
Nyctocereus guatemalensis Britton & Rose
Nyctocereus hirschtianus (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
Nyctocereus neumannii (K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
Peniocereus guatemalensis (Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt
Peniocereus hirschtianus (K.Schum.) D.R.Hunt
Common Name:
General Information
Acanthocereus hirschtianus is a spiny, shrubby, branching cactus growing from a thick, tuberous rootstock. The slender stems can be erect to semierect, arching, creeping, or even prostrate, growing up to 100cm long and 1 - 6cm in diameter[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. In Guatemala it is grown in living fences in conjunction with Acanthocereus tetragonus[
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
]. It is often grown as an ornamental[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Acanthocereus hirschtianus has a wide range and is apparently abundant in Guatemala. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
Range
C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala
Habitat
Found in high densities in thorn scrub vegetation and deciduous forests in dry lowland habitats[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
]. The fruits are up to 2cm long[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is used in living fences in conjunction with Acanthocereus tetragonus[
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
