Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica
(Lam.) Backeb.
Cactaceae
Austrocylindropuntia intermedia Rauh & Backeb.
Cactus coranarius Cav.
Cactus cylindricus Lam.
Cereus cylindricus (Lam.) Haw.
Cylindropuntia cylindrica (Lam.) F.M.Knuth
Cylindropuntia intermedia Rauh & Backeb.
Opuntia bradleyi G.D.Rowley
Opuntia cylindrica DC.
Common Name:
General Information
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica is a spiny, succulent, shrubby or tree-like cactus, loosely or densely branched and growing up to 4 metres or more tall with a distinct woody trunk. The stems are segmented, individual segments arising laterally from previous shoots, distinctly rhomboid-tuberculate in spirals, up to 25cm or more long and 3 - 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 medicine and is also grown as a boundary fence and barrier against grazing animals.
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica has a restricted range and is being affected by cattle ranching and urban sprawl. It will probably qualify for classification in a Threat category in the near future. However, at present the lack of precise field data impedes determination of the appropriate category. Therefore the plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' 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
The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids - these are barbed spines that are usually small to minute and are very sharp and brittle. The glochids are very easily dislodged when the plant is touched and can penetrate the skin where, because of their barbs, they become stuck and are very difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable irritation and discomfort[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
1999- Title
- A natural history of the Sonoran Desert
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips S.J. & Comus P.W.
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Los Angeles, California
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-520-22029-3
- Description
-
].
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
S. America - northern Peru, Ecuador
Habitat
Shrublands; at elevations from 1,500 - 3,500 metres[
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 | Near Threatened |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 3.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The crushed heart juice (original Spanish is 'El zumo del corazón machacado') is used to treat inflammation of the feet[
1783- Title
- Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador
- Publication
-
- Author
- de la Torre, L., Navarrete H., P. Muriel M., Macía M.J. & Ba
- Publisher
- Herbario QCA de la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Pontific
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-9978-77-135-8
- Description
-
].
An infusion of the flowers, and also of the plant, is used to treat coughs[
1783- Title
- Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador
- Publication
-
- Author
- de la Torre, L., Navarrete H., P. Muriel M., Macía M.J. & Ba
- Publisher
- Herbario QCA de la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Pontific
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-9978-77-135-8
- Description
-
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is used as a living fence and is grown on walls or on the edge of fields and orchards to give protection from herbivores[
1783- Title
- Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador
- Publication
-
- Author
- de la Torre, L., Navarrete H., P. Muriel M., Macía M.J. & Ba
- Publisher
- Herbario QCA de la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Pontific
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 978-9978-77-135-8
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
The seeds are sealed in a thick aril, and germination is probably poor under normal conditions[
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.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
