Peniocereus striatus
(Brandegee) Buxb.
Gearstem cactus, Dahlia-root cereus
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(c) Vince Scheidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Vince Scheidt
Summary
Source: WikipediaPeniocereus striatus is a species of cactus known by several common names, including gearstem cactus, cardoncillo, jacamatraca, sacamatraca, and dahlia-rooted cactus. It is endemic to the Sonoran Desert, where it occurs in Baja California, Sinaloa, and Sonora in Mexico and Arizona in the United States. This cactus is a shrub with narrow brown or greenish cylindrical branching stems up to a meter long, but known to reach 2 meters at times. When not in flower or fruit the plant is "very inconspicuous", and "commonly looking more like a collection of dead stems" hidden amongst the dry branches of other plants. The stems are covered in clusters of small, weak spines a few millimeters long. They are yellowish white, sometimes with black tips. The roots have tuber-like swellings at their tips that resemble sweet potatoes. The flowers bloom at night. They are up to 10 centimeters wide with white or pinkish inner tepals and reddish or purplish outer tepals. The style is up to 6 centimeters long and the stamens are about one centimeter in length. The bright red, spiny fruit is 4 or 5 centimeters long. Flowering and fruiting usually occur when summer rainfall starts. This cactus grows in sandy desert soils on hills and flats. It usually grows beneath other plants. It is associated with nurse plants, including ironwood (Olneya tesota) and creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). The flowers are pollinated by sphinx moths. The seeds are eaten by birds, which then disperse them; many of the cacti grow beneath the trees where birds roost. Some populations of this cactus are threatened and in decline. In general, the plant is common in its range and is not a threatened species.
Description
A subtropical cactus in the family Cactaceae, cultivated for its edible fruit.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The fruit are eaten.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant.
Where It Grows
Mexico, North America, USA,
Synonyms
Also Known As
Jarra matraca
References (2)
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 382
- Pio-Leon, J. F., et al, 2017, Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants of potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community. Botanical Sciences 95(1): 47-59
