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Cacti of Zihuatanejo

PHYLUM CHLOROPHYTA

Stenocereus chrysocarpus

Stenocereus chrysocarpus

Stenocereus chrysocarpus is a columnar cactus native to southwestern Mexico, particularly in the dry, rocky regions of Oaxaca and Guerrero. It typically grows upright, reaching heights of 3 to 5 meters, with bluish-green cylindrical stems marked by 8 to 10 pronounced ribs lined with clusters of short, sharp spines. The cactus produces large, funnel-shaped white to pale pink flowers that bloom at night and are primarily pollinated by bats. Its most distinctive feature is its fleshy, golden-yellow fruit—reflected in the species name chrysocarpus, meaning “golden fruit”—which is edible and sweet, locally consumed and ecologically valuable.

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