Acanthocereus tetragonus

Botanical Description

Acanthocereus tetragonus is a gaunt,spiny, leafless succulent shrub of desert areas growing around 2 - 7 metres tall. It has arching stems up to 5cm in diameter, that sometimes root where they touch the ground[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 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 by local people for its edible fruit and stems[ 46 Title Dictionary of Economic Plants. Publication Author Uphof. J. C. Th. Publisher Weinheim Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader. ]. The fruits are often sold in local markets in Guatemala[ 1996 Title Las Cactáceae de Guatemala Publication Author Véliz M.E. Publisher Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala Year 2008 ISBN 99922-2-551-3 Description ]. The plant is grown as a living fence to act as a barrier and boundary marker. Acanthocereus tetragonus is widespread and very abundant throughout its range, and there are no known threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' 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. ].