Stenocereus thurberi, the organ pipe cactus,[3] is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States. The species is found in rocky desert. Two subspecies are recognized based on their distribution and height. The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the species.
Stenocereus thurberi f. cristatus (P.V.Heath) P.V.Heath
Stenocereus thurberi f. dichotomus (P.V.Heath) P.V.Heath
Its English common name is derived from its resemblance to a pipe organ. It is locally known as pitaya dulce, Spanish for "sweet pitaya" or sweet cactus fruit.
This cactus species has several narrow stems that rise vertically, growing from a single short trunk just above the ground level. These stems are about 15 cm (6 in) thick and grow to a height of 5 m (16 ft), however it has been known to reach 7 to 8 m (23 to 26 ft).[4] These stems rarely branch but rather grow annually from the tip of the last growth. The mature plant can reach a width of 3.5 m (12 ft). Each stem has twelve to nineteen 10 mm (3⁄8 in) high ribs that bear dark brown to black spines that turn gray as it matures. It takes 150 years to reach maturity.[4] The older plants produce 75 mm (3 in) funnel-shaped white flowers annually which are open at night and close by the morning and have a purple or pink tint to them. These usually grow during April, May, and June. The organ pipe cactus is usually pollinated by bats. The plant also produces fruit about the size of a tennis ball. Beneath the fruit's spiny exterior is red flesh that has been described as tasting better than watermelon.[5] This fruit has traditionally been harvested by the Seris, who call the plant ool[oːɬ], and is used as a medicine.[6][7]
Organ pipe cactus stem
Organ pipe cactus flower
Distribution
This species is found mostly in Mexico, mainly in Sonora and southern Baja California and Northern Sinaloa.[8] It is also known to the United States, but is much rarer, with the notable exception of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The plant is predominantly found on rocky hillsides up to 900 m (3,000 ft) in elevation. It is sensitive to frost, so the species is rare in low desert areas, which can be more susceptible to frost. The plant is slow growing, and prefers well-drained soil and full sun.[5] However, when in the seedling stage, it requires shade, and will grow beneath a "nurse tree". It will need this for several years until it grows an adequate root system, which is mostly in the upper 10 cm of soil.[9]
Subspecies
There are two recognized subspecies, the type subspecies, thurberi, is much larger and occurs in southern Arizona, mainland Mexico, and Northern Baja California. The other is littoralis, which is much smaller and usually grows to around 3 m (10 ft). It occurs only in southern Baja California.[6]
^Burquez Montijo, A.; Felger, R.S. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Stenocereus thurberi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T151842A121569995. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T151842A121569995.en. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
^"Stenocereus thurberi (Engelm.) Buxb". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Stenocereus thurberi". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
^ abJohnson, G. Mark (2003-03-26). The Ultimate Desert Handbook. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 27. ISBN0-07-139303-X.
^ abMielke, Judy (1993-01-01). Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes. University of Texas Press. pp. 262–3. ISBN0-292-75147-8.
^ abAnderson, Edward; Brown, Roger (2001-03-13). Cactus Family. Timber Press. p. 648. ISBN0-88192-498-9.
^Felger, Richard; Moser, Mary B (1985). People of the desert and sea: ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN0-8165-0818-6.
^"Organ Pipe Cactus (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
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May 04, 2023
stenocereus, thurberi, organ, pipe, cactus, species, cactus, native, mexico, united, states, species, found, rocky, desert, subspecies, recognized, based, their, distribution, height, organ, pipe, cactus, national, monument, named, species, organ, pipe, cactus. Stenocereus thurberi the organ pipe cactus 3 is a species of cactus native to Mexico and the United States The species is found in rocky desert Two subspecies are recognized based on their distribution and height The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is named for the species Organ pipe cactusS thurberi thurberiConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder CaryophyllalesFamily CactaceaeSubfamily CactoideaeGenus StenocereusSpecies S thurberiBinomial nameStenocereus thurberi Engelm Buxbaum 1961Synonyms 2 List Cereus thurberi Engelm Glandulicereus thurberi Engelm Guiggi Lemaireocereus thurberi Engelm Britton amp Rose Marshallocereus thurberi Engelm Backeb Neolemaireocereus thurberi Engelm Backeb Rathbunia thurberi Engelm P V Heath Rathbunia thurberi f cristata P V Heath Rathbunia thurberi f dichotoma P V Heath Stenocereus thurberi f cristatus P V Heath P V Heath Stenocereus thurberi f dichotomus P V Heath P V HeathIts English common name is derived from its resemblance to a pipe organ It is locally known as pitaya dulce Spanish for sweet pitaya or sweet cactus fruit Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Subspecies 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription EditThis cactus species has several narrow stems that rise vertically growing from a single short trunk just above the ground level These stems are about 15 cm 6 in thick and grow to a height of 5 m 16 ft however it has been known to reach 7 to 8 m 23 to 26 ft 4 These stems rarely branch but rather grow annually from the tip of the last growth The mature plant can reach a width of 3 5 m 12 ft Each stem has twelve to nineteen 10 mm 3 8 in high ribs that bear dark brown to black spines that turn gray as it matures It takes 150 years to reach maturity 4 The older plants produce 75 mm 3 in funnel shaped white flowers annually which are open at night and close by the morning and have a purple or pink tint to them These usually grow during April May and June The organ pipe cactus is usually pollinated by bats The plant also produces fruit about the size of a tennis ball Beneath the fruit s spiny exterior is red flesh that has been described as tasting better than watermelon 5 This fruit has traditionally been harvested by the Seris who call the plant ool oːɬ and is used as a medicine 6 7 Organ pipe cactus stem Organ pipe cactus flowerDistribution EditThis species is found mostly in Mexico mainly in Sonora and southern Baja California and Northern Sinaloa 8 It is also known to the United States but is much rarer with the notable exception of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument The plant is predominantly found on rocky hillsides up to 900 m 3 000 ft in elevation It is sensitive to frost so the species is rare in low desert areas which can be more susceptible to frost The plant is slow growing and prefers well drained soil and full sun 5 However when in the seedling stage it requires shade and will grow beneath a nurse tree It will need this for several years until it grows an adequate root system which is mostly in the upper 10 cm of soil 9 Subspecies EditThere are two recognized subspecies the type subspecies thurberi is much larger and occurs in southern Arizona mainland Mexico and Northern Baja California The other is littoralis which is much smaller and usually grows to around 3 m 10 ft It occurs only in southern Baja California 6 See also EditOrgan Pipe Cactus National MonumentReferences Edit Burquez Montijo A Felger R S 2017 amended version of 2013 assessment Stenocereus thurberi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T151842A121569995 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T151842A121569995 en Retrieved 24 February 2023 Stenocereus thurberi Engelm Buxb Plants of the World Online Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 2017 Retrieved 27 November 2020 USDA NRCS n d Stenocereus thurberi The PLANTS Database plants usda gov Greensboro North Carolina National Plant Data Team Retrieved 2 December 2015 a b Johnson G Mark 2003 03 26 The Ultimate Desert Handbook McGraw Hill Professional p 27 ISBN 0 07 139303 X a b Mielke Judy 1993 01 01 Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes University of Texas Press pp 262 3 ISBN 0 292 75147 8 a b Anderson Edward Brown Roger 2001 03 13 Cactus Family Timber Press p 648 ISBN 0 88192 498 9 Felger Richard Moser Mary B 1985 People of the desert and sea ethnobotany of the Seri Indians Tucson University of Arizona Press ISBN 0 8165 0818 6 Organ Pipe Cactus U S National Park Service www nps gov Retrieved 2021 09 29 ORGAN PIPE CACTUS Stenocereus thurberi Desert Ecology Retrieved 2006 07 31 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stenocereus thurberi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stenocereus thurberi amp oldid 1141319484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
