Pachycereus pringlei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pachycereus pringlei |
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| Pachycereus pringlei in Baja California, Mexico | |
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| Genus: |
Pachycereus
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| Species: |
pringlei
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| Synonyms | |
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Cereus pringlei S.Watson |
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The Pachycereus pringlei, also known as the Mexican giant cardon or elephant cactus, is a very tall type of cactus. It grows naturally in northwestern Mexico, in places like Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora. People often call it cardón, which comes from the Spanish word cardo, meaning "thistle."
This amazing cactus can grow in tough places. It has a special partnership, called a symbiotic relationship, with tiny bacteria and fungi on its roots. These tiny helpers allow the cardon to grow even on bare rock where there is no soil. The bacteria can take nitrogen from the air and break down rocks to create food for the cactus. The cactus even puts these helpful bacteria inside its seeds!
The fruit of this cactus was a very important food for the Seri people in Sonora. They have their own name for the cactus, which is xaasj.
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What Does This Giant Cactus Look Like?
The cardon cactus is the tallest living cactus in the world! The tallest one ever measured was about 19.2 m (63 ft 0 in) tall. It has a thick trunk that can be up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide. Many branches grow straight up from this trunk.
It looks a bit like the famous saguaro cactus. But the cardon has more branches, and they start growing closer to the ground. Its stems have fewer ribs, and its white flowers grow lower down on the stem. These large flowers open at night. The cardon's fruit is also spinier than the saguaro's.
How Long Does a Cardon Cactus Live?
An average adult cardon cactus can reach about 10 metres (30 ft) tall. Some have grown as tall as 18 metres (60 ft)! This cactus grows slowly, but it can live for hundreds of years.
When it's young, its growth can speed up if it gets help from certain plant-friendly bacteria. Most adult cardon cacti have several large side branches. These branches can be as big as the main trunk. A full-grown cardon cactus can weigh as much as 25 tons!
Images for kids
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Habit
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With an osprey nest atop
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Flowering
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Husk of a fallen fruit
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With human for scale
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Spines
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See also
In Spanish: Pachycereus pringlei para niños
