Common Name:

General Information

Pachycereus grandis is a spiny, leafless, densely-branchd, tree-like succulent cactus usually growing up to 10 metres tall, exceptionally to 25 metres. It forms a main trunk around 30 - 130cm high and 17 - 25cm in diameter (exceptionally to 100cm) with up to 45 upright branches forming a candelabra-like shape[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
The population of Pachycereus grandis is severely fragmented and there is a continuing decline in both the quality of the habitat due to livestock impacts and the number of mature individuals due to urban expansion and lack of
recruitment. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - southwest Mexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla)

Habitat

Tropical deciduous forest, thorn forest, disturbed areas such as roadsides, arable land, in alluvial soils and on slopes with shallow soils; at elevations from 900 - 1,500 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. The flesh becomes dry as the fruit matures[]. A fermented drink is made from the fruit pulp[]. The spiny, reddish to dark reddish, globose fruit is 38 - 59mm long, 41 - 58mm in diameter with a red pulp and abundant seeds[].

Seed. The seeds are ground into a powder and added to ground corn to make tortillas[]. The ovoid seeds are 4 - 6mm long, 2.4 - 3.6mm wide[]

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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