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Neobuxbaumia
polylopha
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Description: Very tall columnar cactus with a
thick telephone pole-like stem , 7-12(-15) m tall; Often remain solitary
but it can ramify forming a candelabra-like tree with little curved
branches. This plant is characterized by the many, narrow, closely
spaced ribs
Stem: Thick, columnar, deeply ribbed, green.
Ribs: 10-30 narrow, acute
Areoles: Small , 4-6 mm apart with yellowish felt
Spines: Yellowish turning grey as they age, thin, acicular,
bristle-like, mostly pointing downward, approx 1 to 2 cm long.
As ages, spines tend to fall
out.
Central spines: 1
Radial spines: 4 - 8
Flowers: Diurnal, externally green with vivid pink, dark red or
magenta (or orage-yellow) petals near the top of the cactus, their ovary
is sometimes tuberculate, with small scales and red filaments.
Fruits: Small, cylindrical, greenish approx 4 cm long. They
mature rapidly and the seeds can be ready to germinate in only 3 weeks.
They open in a quite peculiar way and form something like a star on the
stem of the plant with the black seeds in contrast with the off-white
colour of the pulp. The fruits are totally exposed to the birds that
devour them quickly. They are also edible for humans, tastes smoothly
sweet and remembers a very mature plum. |
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name: Neobuxbaumia polylopha (DC)
Backeberg
Place of publication: Blätt. Kakteenf. 1938(6): [24].
1938
Origin: Mexico (endemic to a small area in the state of
Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí)
Habitat: The Neobuxbaumia polylophas grow
in limestone canyon wall, where they emerge majestically from the thorny
forest, in this area there are several columnar species.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: (English) Golden Saguaro,
Golden-spined saguaro, Wax cactus, Cone cactus, (Mexican) Cardón.
Etymology: The species name "polylopha"
means "many ribs"
Synonyms:
- Cereus polylophus DC. (Basyonym)
Place of publication:
Mém. Mus. Hist. Paris, 17 : 115, 1828
- Pilosocereus polylophus (DC.)
Salm Dyck
Place of publication:
Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844 : 24, 1845
- Cephalocereus polylophus (DC.)
Br. et R.
Place of publication:
Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb., 12 : 419, 1909
- Carnegia polylopha (A.P.de
Candolle) D.R.Hunt 1988
Culture: Neobuxbaumia are of easy culture and
can grow 15-20 cm a year. They
are cold intolerant. Make sure they are not
exposed to freezing temperatures ( Hardy to -2°C) or they may die. They
need
a well drained soil mix. It appreciates abundant water during the
summer and, during its growing period but allow to
dry fully before watering again, it is possible to add a
fertilizer 6-6-18 from time to time. During the
winter months they should be rather kept dry. Since they are rapid
growers, they need plenty of space for their roots. Repotting should be
done every other year, or when the plant has outgrown its pot. Sun
Exposure: Light shade when young, full sun later. In mild climate they
can be grown in rock gardens in full sun, in dry and sandy
soils.
Propagation: Usually by
Seeds (Seeds should be sown in a well-drained soil mix. Surface sowing
is the best; seeds germinate in 14-28 days at 25° C, or from
cuttings in spring (let them dry till the ends callous well). Then
replant them in fresh cactus soil that is ever so slightly moist, and
keep it that way till they root)
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Neobuxbaumia polylopha.
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