Cardón Hecho, Cardón Barbón

Scientific Name: Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Synonym: Cereus pecten-aboriginum, Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum ssp. tehuantepecanus , Pachycereus tehuantepecanus
Family: Cactaceae

Origin: Northwestern Mexico (from Sonora and Baja California, down to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec)

Growth Habits: Treelike cactus, up to 25 feet tall (7.5 m), stems up to 5 inches in diameter (12.5 cm); 10-12 acute ribs; areoles 0.4 inch in diameter (1 cm); 1 or 2 central spines, 8-12 radials

Propagation: Seeds (cuttings are difficult)

The name 'pecten-aboriginum' is the Latin for "natives' comb", because of the reported use of the spiny fruits as such, by the natives.

The fruit in Britton and Rose's The Cactaceae
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum seedlings

Blooming Habits:
The flowers are white, with purplish outer petals, 2 to 3.6 inches long (5-9 cm), with a floral tube covered with brown wool. They open during the day. The fruit is 2.4 to 3 inches in diameter (6-7.5 cm). It contains shiny seeds, 4 mm long.