Common Name:

General Information

Corryocactus brachypetalus is a spiny, evergreen, succulent plant, freely-branched from near the base to form a large clump of many erect stems up to 4 metres tall, with stems around 6 - 10cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fuel. The fruit is probably edible.
Corryocactus brachypetalus has a relatively restricted range and low population densities. It is threatened by human activities as well as natural factors, such as droughts, and parasitic insects. This has led to reductions in number of mature individuals and in the population size of around 50% in the last 10 years. Also, a reduction in habitat quality has been observed. The reasons for its decline are understood, but have not ceased and are not reversible. In Camaná, Peru, the species is considered locally extinct or extirpated. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern Peru

Habitat

Coastal hills; at elevations from 50 - 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The globose, greenish-yellow fruit is around 6 - 7cm in diameter[]. The fruit is spiny at first, but these fall off as the fruit matures[].
We have no specific information that the fruit of this species is edible. However, the fruit of all the different species in this genus are said to have more or less edible fruits[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Dead and dried plants are used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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