Pachycereus | |
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Pachycereus pringlei in Baja California, Mexico | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
Tribe: | Echinocereeae |
Genus: |
Pachycereus ( A.Berger) Britton & Rose [1] |
Type species | |
Pachycereus pringlei | |
Species | |
See text. | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Pachycereus is a genus of large cacti native to Central America and Mexico. [1] They form large shrubs or small trees up to 15 m tall, with stout stems up to 1 m in diameter. Pachycereus comes from the ancient Greek παχύς (pachys) meaning "thick" and the Latin cereus meaning "torch".
As of October 2023 [update], Plants of the World Online accepted six species: [1]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Pachycereus eichlamii (Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Southeast, Nicaragua | ||
Pachycereus grandis Rose | Mexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla) | ||
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm. ex S.Watson) Britton & Rose | Indian comb | Mexico | |
Pachycereus pringlei (S.Watson) Britton & Rose | cardón cactus | states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora Mexico | |
Pachycereus tepamo Gama & S.Arias | Mexico (Michoacán) | ||
Pachycereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Backeb. | Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla) |
P. pringlei is the tallest cactus species in the world, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m. [2]
These genera have been brought into synonymy with Pachycereus by some sources,[ citation needed] although as of October 2023 [update], not by Plants of the World Online: [1]
Species that may be placed in Pachycereus include: