Browningia candelaris

Botanical Description

Browningia candelaris is a spiny, evergreen, succulent, tree-like cactus, producing crowns of several, thick, nearly spineless branches up to 6 metres tall with large trunks that are unbranched and heavily spined, to 50cm in diameter. The stems are cylindrical, often curving downward, and nearly spineless[ 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 and medicine, whilst the dried stems are used for fuel and are often used to make rainsticks[ 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. ]. Where population information is available in the south of its range Browningia candelaris would be classified as Vulnerable due to an estimated population decline of at least 50% over the past 40 years, the lack of efficient conservation strategies, and its presence in only one protected area. However, since no information is currently available about the northern part of its range, the species is classified as 'Data Deficient' 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. ].