Mitrocereus militaris

Botanical Description

Mitrocereus militaris is a spiny, evergreen, columnar cactus. A tree-like plant, it produces a single upright stem when young, but later branches freely and can eventually form an almost solid mass around 12 - 18 metres tall and 5 metres in diameter[ 1987 Title The Cactus Family Publication Author Anderson E.F. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2001 ISBN 0-88192-498-9 Description An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation.. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Mitrocereus militaris has a total population size that is is estimated to be less than 9,000. Although it is a wide ranging species, the subpopulations are naturally rare and isolated and total populations size is small, with all isolated subpopulations having less that 15 mature individuals each. Ongoing threats to the habitat are resulting in a decline in the population. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].