Stenocereus thurberi (Engelm.) Buxb.

국표에 없다.

Origin and Habitat: The species is from south-western Arizona to northern Mexico in the Sonoran desert (Sinaloa, west Chihuahua, southern Baja California and Baja California Sur ).
Altitude range: It grows at elevations between sea level and 1,470 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: The species is widespread and locally dominant on slopes and plains in Sonoran desert scrub, coastal, foothills thornscrub, and tropical deciduous forest. At the northern end of their range, the plants are restricted to rocky slopes and cliff ledges where night-time radiation of heat protects them from frost. In open desert vegetation most branching is at or near ground level. In thornscrub, most branching occurs 4 m above the ground. slightly above the level of the surrounding tree canopy. Part of the species range is affected by land-use change for agriculture and clearing and planting of buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare) for cattle forage and subsequent fires in central Sonora. Some of the densest populations have been lost, but most of the range in not under threat. This cactus can withstand —4°C though the stem tips are frost sensitive. The frost sensitivity means that at its northern extreme of its range, it is found below 1000 m on south-facing slopes.

Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Organ Pipe Cactus
SPANISH (Español): Pitahaya Dulce, Mehuelé, Pitayo Dulce, Marisemeña, Órgano, Pitahaya, Pitaya dulce, Pitahauya, Órgano marismeña

Description: The organ pipe cactus Stenocereus thurberi is a large shrubs or treelike cactus usually without a definite trunk, that shows latitudinal variation in growth form, from a multi-stemmed shrub sending up from the base 5 to 20 branches 3 to 8 meters high in dry northern habitats to a ten metre columnar arborescent cactus in tropical deciduous forest. The habit of branching just at the base is unusual in this genus, in which most of the species have definite, though often short, trunks. The flowers, which appear from March to August, are followed by the large delicious fruit much prized by the native, who knows it as pitahaya or pitahaya dulce. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate form and subsp. littoralis (K.Brandegee) N.P.Taylor. The latter subspecies is considered by some experts to be a separate species.
Branches: Erect or ascending, green, 1-8 m high, 15 to 20 cm in diameter, the basal ones usually simple but occasionally with lateral branches, this doubtless being caused by injuries to the growing tips.
Ribs: Numerous, 12 to 17(-19), rather low but sometimes 2 cm high, rounded to acute, separated by narrow intervals forming more or less noticeable tubercles.
Areoles: 10 to 15 or rarely 30 mm apart, large, sometimes becoming 1 cm in diameter, circular, brown-felted, more or less glandular, the whole areole becoming a wax-like mass within one or two years. The exudate producing dark red to black encrustation on the spines.
Spines: Numerous, acicular to subulate, unequal, brownish to black, becoming grey in age
Central spines: One to three, lowermost one up to 5 cm long.
Radial spines: Seven to nine 1 cm long.

Flowers: Funnelform, white to pale lavender 6 to 9 cm long, 6 to 7 cm in diameter, borne on the upper portion of the stem but sometimes 3 dm below the top. Night-blooming but remaining open the following day. Outer perianth-segments broad, reddish, imbricated, gradually passing into the scales on the tube. Inner perianth-segments white or light purple with nearly white margins and bases, widely spreading or even turned back at the apex, broad, obtuse. Necta chamber relatively large, its secretion copious. Filaments short, numerous, erect, white, borne all over the throat, 2 to 2.5 cm long. Lower part of flower-tube or tube proper smooth within. Pericarpel tuberculate, bearing small, ovate, acute purplish-red scales, these with white and brown hairs in their axils.
Blooming season: Flowering occurs mostly from May to June (but recorded March-December) and bats are the main pollinator. Most plants reach reproductive age when 2-2.5 m tall (15-35 years old !).
Fruit: Globular, 4 to 7.5 cm in diameter, edible, very spiny, olive without, crimson within and ripens in late summer. When mature, the fruit loses its spines and shows the red pulp.
Seeds: Dark brown to black, shining, 1.8 to 2.5 mm long.

Stenocereus thurberi (llifle.com)