Leucostele atacamensis
(Phil.) Schlumpb.
Cactaceae
Cephalocereus pasacanus (F.A.C.Weber) K.Schum.
Cereus atacamensis Phil.
Cereus eriocarpus Phil.
Cereus pasacana (F.A.C.Weber) F.A.C.Weber
Echinopsis atacamensis (Phil.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley
Echinopsis formosissima Labour.
Echinopsis pasacana (F.A.C.Weber) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley
Echinopsis rivierei (Backeb.) H.Friedrich & G.D.Rowley
Helianthocereus atacamensis (Phil.) Backeb.
Helianthocereus pasacanus (F.A.C.Weber) Backeb.
Leucostele rivierei Backeb.
Pilocereus pasacanus F.A.C.Weber
Trichocereus atacamensis (Phil.) W.T.Marshall & T.M.Bock
Trichocereus cephalopasacanus Fric
Trichocereus eremophilus F.Ritter
Trichocereus pasacana (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose
Trichocereus rivierei (Backeb.) Krainz
Common Name: Cardon
General Information
Leucostele atacamensis is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, columnar cactus. A tree-like plant, occasionally producing small lateral branches and becoming candelabra-like, it can grow up to 10 metres tall. The stems are cylindrical, up to 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..
]. Subspecies atacamensis is usually unbranched, reaching heights of 6 metres; it occurs in Chile. Subspecies pasacana is often branched, attaining heights of 10 metres or more; it occurs in Argentina and Bolivia[
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 and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental[
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.
].
Leucostele atacamensisThe plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' 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
S. America - northern Chile, northwest Argentina, southern Bolivia
Habitat
Rocky soils on high elevation plateaux above the tree-line; at elevations from 1,700 - 3,900 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 | Near Threatened |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
,
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..
]. A sweet flavour[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
]. The globose, dark green fruits are covered by dense hairs, up to 50mm 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..
].
Medicinal
The fruit is used as a treatment for hangovers after drinking alcohol[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The dried, hollow stems are used to make rainsticks[
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..
]. (subspecies pasacana)
The spines are used as needles[
1915- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Andes
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors)
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1
- Publisher
- Springer Nature; Switzerland
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
- 978-3-030-28932-4
- Description
-
].
The wood has been used as a construction material, for making furniture etc. It is highly valued for making handicrafts such as lamps, tables.[
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 dried stems are used as firewood[
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..
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
