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Useful Temperate Plants

Echinocereus polyacanthus

Engelm.

Cactaceae


The taxonomy of this genus is complicated due to fuzzy taxonomic boundaries, polytypic taxa, and differing interpretations by specialists. Most North American botanists recognize about 50 species, while the Echinocereus specialists in Germany recognize more than 70 species[
1991
Title
Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora in southwestern Arizona. Part 7. Eudicots: Cactaceae - Cactus Family
Publication
Phytoneuron 2014-69: 1-95
Author
Felger R.S. et al
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
 
]. We are following the treatment of David Hunt, 2016 in CITES Cactaceae Checklist, Third Edition, ISBN 978-0-9933113-2-1.

+ Synonyms

Cereus leeanus Hook.

Cereus pacificus J.M.Coult.

Cereus pleiogonus Labour.

Cereus polyacanthus Engelm.

Echinocereus durangensis Rümpler

Echinocereus leeanus (Hook.) Lem. ex Rümpler

Echinocereus triglochidiatus polyacanthu (Engelm.) U.Guzmán

Common Name: Mojave Mound cactus

No Image.

General Information

Echinocereus polyacanthus is a spiny, succulent, evergreen, perennial cactus plant that sometimes forms a single stem or can branch from low-down to form clumps of as many as 400 stems. The stems are erectm cylindrical, around 10 - 30cm long and 2 - 7cm in diameter[
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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Echinocereus polyacanthus is widely distributed, locally common across its range, and there are no major threats. 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

Southwestern N. America - northern and western Mexico (Chihuahua to Jalisco)

Habitat

Rocky outcrops in oak and pine woodlands, rocky mountain slopes in volcanic or sedimentary rocks with humus pockets; at elevations from 1,300 - 2,000 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 StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.20 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
1839
Title
Use and Nutritional Composition of some Traditional Mountain Pima Plant Foods
Publication
J. Ethnobiol. 11(1):93-114 Summer 1991
Author
Laferriere J.E.; Weber C.W. & Kohlhepp E.A.
Publisher
 
Year
1991
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The ovoid, green fruits have a white pulp[
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 fruit is covered with sharp spines and is difficult to utilize, though the flavour is good[
1839
Title
Use and Nutritional Composition of some Traditional Mountain Pima Plant Foods
Publication
J. Ethnobiol. 11(1):93-114 Summer 1991
Author
Laferriere J.E.; Weber C.W. & Kohlhepp E.A.
Publisher
 
Year
1991
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Echinocereus+polyacanthus>

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