Pachycereus weberi
(J.M.Coult.) Backeb.
Cactaceae
Cereus candelabrum K.Schum.
Cereus weberi J.M.Coult.
Lemaireocereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Britton & Rose
Pachycereus gigas (Backeb.) Backeb.
Ritterocereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Backeb.
Stenocereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Buxb.
Common Name:
General Information
Pachycereus weberi is a spiny, succulent, tree-like cactus growing up to 15 metres tall with a trunk 60 - 200cm high and 30 - 60cm in diameter. Old specimens can have up to 90 more or less erect columnar branches, 12 - 20cm in diameter, forming a large, candelabra-like shape[
].
The plant is a popular food within its native range, where it is harvested from the wild in large quantities and sold in local markets[
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.
]. It is also used as a source of materials.
Pachycereus weberi has a wide distribution, it is locally abundant and is not declining at nearly the rate sufficient to qualify for listing in a threatened category. 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 - western Mexico (Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca and Puebla)
Habitat
Tropical deciduous forests, growing on moderate to steep slopes or low hills, in shallow soils or deep alluvial soils, sometimes forming forests known as 'cardonales' where it is the dominant species; at elevations from 600 - 1,100 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 |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Pollinators | Bats |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained, circumneutral soil[
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 cooked[
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 fruits are mashed and added to water to make a fresh fruit drink[
]. A red pulp. The purple-red, globose-ellipsoid fruits are 41 - 63mm long, 34 - 54mm in diameter[
].
The seeds are ground into a powder and added to corn to make tortillas, or to make the sauce known as mole[
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.
,
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The trunks are sometimes used as table bases[
]
The wood is used in the construction of traditional houses[
].
The wood is used for fuel[
1896- Title
- Estudio fitoquímico de la corteza de Croton gossypiifolius colectada en Venezuela
- Publication
- Rev. Latinoamer. Quím. 41/3 pp 161-170, (2013)
- Author
- Suárez A.I. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2013
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
