Plant · GBIF taxon 7282285
Pachycereus pringlei
pachycereus pringleiAlso known as Cardon, Elephant Cactus, Cardon Gigante, Sabueso
Cardon cacti are the tallest cacti in the world, capable of reaching heights over 60 feet with massive, deeply ribbed trunks that store thousands of gallons of water. These desert giants support entire ecosystems, providing nesting cavities for woodpeckers and producing nocturnal white flowers pollinated by nectar-feeding bats. Over centuries, their extensive root systems anchor them firmly into the rocky, arid soils of the Sonoran Desert.
SucculentDesertGigantic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Water
- Sunlight
- Soil minerals
Predators
- Desert rodents
- Insects
- Bighorn sheep
ThreatsHabitat loss, coastal development, climate change
HabitatsArid deserts, coastal plains, rocky slopes
Life spanUp to 300 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyCactaceae
- GenusPachycereus
- Speciespachycereus pringlei
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp spines can cause painful puncture wounds; keep a safe distance when observing.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses extremely sharp, rigid spines that can cause deep puncture wounds and skin irritation.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a massive, multi-branched gray-green trunk with prominent vertical ribs lined with clusters of gray spines.
- What to do
- Never attempt to touch or climb the cactus; maintain a distance of at least two meters.
Responsible observation
- Spine Safety: Avoid touching the sharp, rigid spines which can easily puncture skin and shoes.
- Nocturnal Viewing: Look for the large white flowers opening at night during spring to spot visiting bats.
- Scale Appreciation: Stand several meters back to fully appreciate the immense height of mature specimens.
Look-alike WClarke / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Species The original uploader was Pretzelpaws at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Pollinator (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
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