Stenocereus griseus

(Haworth) Buxbaum

Pitaya, Grey stenocereus, Candle cactus

Cactaceae Edible: Fruit 1,304 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Stenocereus griseus, also known as the Mexican organ pipe, dagger cactus, pitaya, and pitayo de mayo, is a species of cactus.

Description

A cactus. It is a treelike plant. It has a clear trunk and branches above. It can be 6-9 m high. The stems are green and erect. They are 9-12 cm across. There are 6-10 ribs. They bulge below each spine bud. There are 1-3 central spines and 6-11 around them. The flowers open at night. They are funnel shaped and white. They are 10 cm long. The fruit are oblong. The fruit are 5 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible with a delicious flavour and reach around 5cm in diameter. Immature fruits carry spines, which are shed as the fruit ripens. The pulp has potential for use in producing wine and marmalade.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in coastal regions in Venezuela.

Where It Grows

Andes, Aruba, Caribbean, Central America*, Colombia, Curacao, Guatemala, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, North America, South America, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela,

Cultivation

A plant of drier areas in the tropics and subtropics. Plants can only tolerate the lightest of frosts. Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5. Established plants are very drought tolerant. The plant is subspontaneous and spontaneous after abandoned cultivation. The flowers open at night, remaining open until around midday the folowing day.

Propagation

Propagate by seed or cuttings.

Other Uses

The wood is rich in potassium and is used as a fertilizer. The plant can be used for fencing. The fruits play an ecological role, being consumed by invertebrates, reptiles, birds, bats, and flightless mammals.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Cereus deficiens Otto & A DietrichCereus eburneus Salm-DyckCereus griseus HaworthLemaireocereus deficiens (Otto & A. Dietrich) BackebergLemaireocereus griseus (Haworth) Britton & RoseRittocereus griseus (Haworth) BackebergRathbunia grisea (Haworth) P.V. HeathRitterocereus deficiens (Otto & A. Dietrich) BackebergRathbunia deficiens (Otto & A. Dietrich) P.V. HeathStenocereus deficiens (Otto & A. Dietrich) Buxbaum

Also Known As

Cardon, Cardushi, Dato, Datu, Iguaraya, Penca, Pitayo de mayo, Yaguarey

References (17)

Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press. p 55, 645
Bot. Stud. 12:100. 1961
Fouqué, A. 1972. Espèces fruitières d'Amérique tropicale. Institut français de recherches fruitierès outre-mer (As Lemaireocereus griseus)
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 623
John, L., & Stevenson, V., 1979, The Complete Book of Fruit. Angus & Robertson p 290 (As Lemaireocereus griseus)

Show all 17 references

Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 477 (As Lemaireocereus griseus)
Kew Plants of the World On line
Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 34
Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 87 (As Lemaireocereus deficiens and Lemaireocereus griseus)
Piedra-Malagón, E. M. et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 16
Pimienta-Barrios, E., and Nobel, P. S., 1994, Piyaya (Stenocereus spp., Cactaceae): An Ancient and Modern Fruit Crop of Mexico. Economic Botany, 48(1):76-83
Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Segura, S. et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 660
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.desert-tropicals.com