Common Name:

General Information

Stenocereus stellatus is an evergreen, succulent, shrubby cactus, usually branching from near the base. The stems can be up to 4 metres long by up to 9cm wide[].
The edible fruits are gathered from the wild and cultivated hedges for local use, and are sold in local markets[]. The plant is grown in Mexico to form living fences[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America to southern N. America - southern Mexico.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plants can take very little frost[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A slightly acid flavour[]. The fruit is said to make the most delicious of all the cactus jams in Mexico[]. It is also used as a filling in turnovers[]. The fruit can be dried for later use[]. The fruits are around 3cm in diameter[].
The fruit juice is used to prepare an alcoholic beverage called 'colonche'[].

Seeds - occasionally eaten[].

Flowers - occasionally eaten[]. The flower buds are parboiled then prepared with onions and vinegar[].

Stems - occasionally eaten[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used in Mexico to form living fences[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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