Stenocereus
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 Stenocereus thurberi
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Stenocereus is a genus of columnar or tree-like cacti from the Baja California Peninsula and other parts of Mexico, Arizona in the United States, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. The genus has been enlarged by the addition of species from several other genera.
The flowers are mostly borne near the apex of the stems and mostly noctunal. They are considered easy to grow and generally grow slowly.
Stenocereus thurberi (the organ pipe cactus) is a well-known member of this genus and is widely distributed in Arizona and northern Mexico.
Stenocereus gummosus (pitahaya agria, pitaya agria) has a fruit that is highly favored by Native American groups like the Seris of northwestern Mexico.
- Selected species
- Stenocereus alamosensis - octopus cactus
- Stenocereus aragonii
- Stenocereus beneckei
- Stenocereus eruca - creeping devil, caterpillar cactus
- Stenocereus griseus - dagger cactus
- Stenocereus gummosus - pitahaya agria, pitaya agria
- Stenocereus hollianus
- Stenocereus montanus
- Stenocereus pruinosus
- Stenocereus queretaroensis
- Stenocereus stellatus - Baja organ pipe cactus
- Stenocereus thurberi - organ pipe cactus
[edit] Synonymy
The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Stenocereus:
- Hertrichocereus Backeb.
- Isolatocereus Backeb.
- Isolatocereus (Backeb.) Backeb.
- Machaerocereus Britton & Rose
- Marshallocereus Backeb.
- Neolemaireocereus Backeb.
- Rathbunia Britton & Rose
- Ritterocereus Backeb.
[edit] References
- Felger, Richard; Mary B. Moser. (1985). People of the desert and sea: ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
- Innes C, Wall B (1995). Cacti, Succulents and Bromaliads. Cassell & The Royal Horticultural Society.
- The species list is referenced from cactiguide.com which is in turn referenced from several books which are listed on that site. The principal book listed here is The Cactus Family by Edward F. Anderson.
