More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Cacti of Zihuatanejo
PHYLUM CHLOROPHYTA
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Pinks, Cactuses, and Allies (Order Caryophyllales)
-Cacti (Family Cactaceae)
-Globular Cacti, Moonlight Cacti, Torch Cacti, and Allies (Subfamily Cactoideae)
-Tribe Pachycereae
-Pitayas (Genus Stenocereus)
-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.
Stenocereus chrysocarpus
Description
• Stenocereus chrysocarpus is a columnar cactus in the cactus family (Cactaceae).
• It grows as an upright, branching cactus with ribbed, cylindrical stems and clusters of spines along the ribs.
• Its flowers are typically tubular to funnel-shaped and open at night or around dawn, as is common among many columnar cacti.
• The flowers develop into fleshy fruits, characteristic of the genus, which may provide food for wildlife.
• Identification should be confirmed from the stem ribs, spine arrangement, flowers, and fruit, as columnar cacti can be difficult to distinguish in the field.
Range
• Stenocereus chrysocarpus is reported from Mexico, but its precise distribution and accepted taxonomic status should be checked against a current botanical reference.
• The identification in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, should be treated cautiously until confirmed, particularly because similar Stenocereus species occur in the region.
Habitat
• Columnar cacti of this group commonly grow in seasonally dry tropical forest, thorn scrub, rocky slopes, and open, well-drained sites.
• They are adapted to high sunlight, limited rainfall, and soils that drain rapidly.