Senita, Whisker cactus, Totem cactus
Pachycereus schottii

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is shrubby or treelike. It can form thickets of up to 100 stems. The stems are 1-3 m high. They are yellow-green and 5-10 cm across. There are 4-13 ribs. There are 1-3 central spines that are 1-3 cm long and 3-15 spines around these that are 0.5-1.5 cm long. There are false heads which can be 5 cm to 100 cm long and they have flexible grey spines. The flowers are funnel shaped on this false head and they open at night. They are white to pink and 4 cm long by 3 cm wide. The fruit are round, red and fleshy. They are 1-3 cm across.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cina, Garambuyo, Sina, Sinita, Tuna barbona, Viejo

Synonyms

Cereus schottii Engelmann; Pilocereus schottii (Engelmann) Lemaire; Lophocereus schottii (Engelmann) Britton & Rose; Cereus sargentianus Orcutt; Pilocereus sargentianus (Orcutt) K. Schumann; Lophocereus sargentianus (Orcutt) Britton & Rose; Cereus schottii var. australis K. Brandegee; Pilocereus schottii var. australis (K. Brandegee) K. Schumann; Lophocereus australis Britton & Rose; Lophocereus schottii var. australis (K. Brandegee) Borg; Cereus mieckleyanus Weingart; Lemaireocereus mieckleyanus (Weingart) Backeberg;