Escontria chiotilla
(F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Rose
Cactaceae
Cereus chiotilla F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.
Myrtillocactus chiotilla (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) P.V.Heath
Common Name:
General Information
Escontria chiotilla is a spiny, succulent tree-like cactus growing around 4 - 7 metres tall. A much branched plant with a short trunk and cylindrical, bright green stems around 8 - 12cm in diameter[
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.
,
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. This species is widely used in central Mexico, wild populations are sometimes managed to improve yields and the plant has also undergone some domestication processes[
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 fruit is sold in local markets[
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 fruits of Escontria, as of those of many other columnar cacti, are a key element of subsistence for a large portion of indigenous communities in Mexico[
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.
].
Escontria chiotilla is a common and fairly widespread species with no major threats. 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
Southern N. America - southwest Mexico (Guerrero, Michoacán, Oaxaca and Puebla)
Habitat
Tropical deciduous forest and xerophyllous scrub; at elevations from 800 - 1,200 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 |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 5.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
In cultivation, Cactus plants generally will not succeed in moist climates. They usually require a sunny position in a well-drained, circumneutral soil and to be kept more or less dry in the dormant season[
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.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or dried for later use[
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.
]. A good quality fruit, it is sweet and fleshy[
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..
,
1990- Title
- Cacti Biology and Uses
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nobel, Park S. (Editor)
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Berkeley, California
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-520-23157-0
- Description
- A lot of information about the uses and cultivation of Cacti native to central Mexico
]. A delicious flavour, they can be eaten raw, or made in jam, ice creams or drinks[
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..
]. A gooseberry-like flavour[
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
].The globose, purple-brown fruit is about 50mm. in diameter[
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 fruit is fermented to make an alcoholic beverage[
1990- Title
- Cacti Biology and Uses
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nobel, Park S. (Editor)
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Berkeley, California
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-520-23157-0
- Description
- A lot of information about the uses and cultivation of Cacti native to central Mexico
].
Seeds - dried and ground into a powder[
1990- Title
- Cacti Biology and Uses
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nobel, Park S. (Editor)
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Berkeley, California
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-520-23157-0
- Description
- A lot of information about the uses and cultivation of Cacti native to central Mexico
].
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is grown as a living fence in order to mark out boundaries and act as a barrier[
1990- Title
- Cacti Biology and Uses
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nobel, Park S. (Editor)
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Berkeley, California
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-520-23157-0
- Description
- A lot of information about the uses and cultivation of Cacti native to central Mexico
].
Other Uses
The dried stems are used for fuel[
1990- Title
- Cacti Biology and Uses
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nobel, Park S. (Editor)
- Publisher
- University of California Press; Berkeley, California
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-520-23157-0
- Description
- A lot of information about the uses and cultivation of Cacti native to central Mexico
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
