Carnegiea gigantea

Botanical Description

Carnegiea gigantea is a very spiny, evergreen, succulent columnar cactus with usually 1 - 10 upright branches (exceptionally, up to 50 branches); it can grow up to 16 metres tall with the stem 25 - 75cm in diameter. Very slow-growing, the plant first develops as a single column, the branches only appearing after around 50 - 70 years when the plant is 4 metres or more tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. , 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The fruits are a staple food of the native people and are harvested in large quantities, many being preserved for later use. The plant is much grown as an ornamental. Carnegiea gigantea has a wide range. Even though there is a decrease in the population, this species is still locally abundant and the observed decrease is not sufficient to trigger a threat listing[ 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. ]. Although not considered endangered, the plant is protected under the Arizona Native Plant Law. The most significant impact on their populations is posed by urban development, and developers have a duty to move or protect any plants that would otherwise be destroyed during building operations[ 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 classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 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. ].