Organ pipe cactus
Stenocereus thurberi

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A branched columnar cactus. It is greyish-green. The stems have red spines. The stems can be 2-3 m tall and 12 cm across. They form a cluster from the base. There are 12-17 prominent ribs. The spine spots are 1-2 cm apart. There are 7-9 spines which radiate out and are 1 cm long. And there are 1-3 central spines which are 2-5 cm long. The flowers are pink and 7 cm across. The fruit are edible. The fruit are 4 cm long. They lose their spines when ripe They are red outside and red or yellow inside

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It needs bright sunlight. Mature plants can tolerate heavy frosts with only tip damage. Seedlings are damaged by frost. Plants need temperatures above 10°C to grow. It grows in arid and semiarid zones in the Sonoran Desert. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They are also dried and stored and eaten as sweets. The pulp is boiled and used like jam. The seeds are parched and stored and used to make meal cakes. The seeds are dried and ground into a meal. The fruit are eaten fresh, skin and all. They are also dried or made into wines or syrups. The petals are also eaten.

It is an important staple food.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, petals

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds or cuttings. It can be cultivated as a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Arizona organ pipe, Mehuele, Organo marismena, Pitahaya dulce, Pitaya dulce, Pitayo dulce, Sweet pitaya, Xoconochtli

Synonyms

Cereus thurberi Engelm.; Pilocereus thurberi (Engelmann) Rumpler; Lemaireocereus thurberi (Engel.) Rumpler; Marshallocereus thurberi (Englm.) Backeb.; Rathbunia thurberi (Engelmann) P.V. Heath; Cereus thurberi var. littoralis K. Brandegee; Lemaireocereus littoralis (K. Brandegee) Backeberg; Marshallocereus thurberi var. littoralis (K. Brandegee) Backeberg; Stenocereus littoralis (K. Brandegee) L.W. Lenz.; Stenocereus thurberi subsp. littoralis (K. Brandegee) N.P. Taylor;