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Pachycereus facts for kids

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Pachycereus
FH030008.jpg
Baja California, Mexico
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Echinocereeae
Genus: Pachycereus
(A.Berger) Britton & Rose
Type species
Pachycereus pringlei
Species

See text.

Pachycereus is a genus of 9–12 species of large cacti native to Mexico and just into southern Arizona, United States. They form large shrubs or small trees up to 15 m tall, with stout stems up to 1 m in diameter. Pachycereus comes from the ancient Greek παχύς (pachys) meaning "thick" and the Latin cereus meaning "torch".

Species

Image Scientific name Common Name Distribution
Pachycereus fulviceps (5753610505).jpg Pachycereus fulviceps (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) D.R.Hunt Mexico
Pachycereus gatesii (M.E.Jones) D.R.Hunt Mexico (Baja California Sur)
Pachycereus gaumeri Britton & Rose Morelos, Puebla - Mexico
Pachycereus grandis Rose Mexico (México State, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla)
Pachycereus hollianus (F.A.C.Weber ex J.M.Coult.) Buxb. Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla)
Pachycereus lepidanthus (Eichlam) Britton & Rose Guatemala; Honduras
Pachycereus militaris 0zz.jpg Pachycereus militaris (Audot) D.R.Hunt Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco and Michoacán states of México
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (5769176258).jpg Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm. ex S.Watson) Britton & Rose Indian comb Mexico
Cardon in flower.jpg Pachycereus pringlei (S.Watson) Britton & Rose cardón cactus states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora Mexico
Pachycereus tepamo Gama & S.Arias Mexico (Michoacán)
Pachycereus weberi (1).jpg Pachycereus weberi (J.M.Coult.) Backeb. Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla)

P. pringlei is the tallest cactus species in the world, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m.

Synonymy

These genera have been brought into synonymy with Pachycereus, although this is not always maintained:

  • Backebergia Bravo
  • Lemaireocereus Britton & Rose
  • Lophocereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose
  • Marginatocereus (Backeb.) Backeb.
  • Mitrocereus (Backeb.) Backeb.
  • Pterocereus T.MacDoug. & Miranda

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pachycereus para niños

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