Corryocactus brevistylus
(K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Britton & Rose
Cactaceae
Corryocactus brevispinus Rauh & Backeb.
Corryocactus krausii Backeb.
Corryocactus pachycladus Rauh & Backeb.
Corryocactus puquiensis Rauh & Backeb.
Common Name: Cardón
General Information
Corryocactus brevistylus is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, shrubby cactus, branching freely near the base to form large clumps 2 - 5 metres tall. The stems are around 12 - 15cm 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 and source of materials.
Corryocactus brevistylus has a wide range and a stable population. However, it is not abundant, and the various subpopulations are isolated from each other and consist of only a few specimens. The population should be monitored due to its low abundance and its use as a food source, for shampoo and handicrafts production. 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
S. America - northern Chile, southern Peru
Habitat
Inter Andean valleys; at elevations from 2,500 - 3,600 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 | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 3.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
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..
]. Rather acidic, sugar is sometimes added[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
]. The fruits are used to produce an alcoholic beverage[
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.
]. The globose, greenish fruits are 70 - 100mm in diameter, containing numerous brown seeds and covered with spines that soon fall away[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
,
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
The juice of the fruit, consumed whilst fasting, is used for the treatment of gallbladder problems, stomach pain, liver, kidney stones, and also as a laxative[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
A shampoo is produced from the stems[
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.
].
The plant has been used to make handicrafts[
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.
]. The dried stems are used to make rainsticks (palos de agua), a rattle made from a length of hollow, dried stem, with cactus spines pressed into the stem which is then sealed at each end with small pebbles or seeds inside, A harmonious sound, like the flow of water, is produced when the stem is turned over, allowing the seeds or pebbles to fall[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
