41)+Cactus

=Organ Pipe Cactus= = Stenocereus thurberi = Cactacae

media type="file" key="delany organ pipe cactus.mp3"


 * [[image:Thurberi_Full_Plant.JPG align="center" caption="Full Plant, 5' 3""]] || [[image:Spikes!.JPG align="center" caption="Spikes (not leaves, but just as cool)"]] ||
 * [[image:Flower_sprouting_plant.JPG align="center" caption="Green ridges are sturdy, but pliable, and sometimes called bark"]] || [[image:tHurberi_flower.jpg caption="Night blooming reproductive flower, turns into a red fruit!"]][|Photo Credit] ||

Classification
Organ Pipe cactus //Stenocereus thurberi// Angiosperm: the more mature plants produce 8 cm funnel-shaped white flowers which are distinctive in that they open at night and close during the day. Dicot: embryo with two cotyledons, pollen with three furrows or pores, flower parts in multiples of four or five, major leaf veins reticulated, stem vascular bundles in a ring, roots develop from radicle, and secondary growth often present.

Family Characteristics
Flowers of the organ pipe cactus are usually a pinkish/purple shade of white 2-2.5 inches long which bloom at night May through July. There are numerous The spiny thorns on the cacti are usually found in groups of 9 to 10 on ribs of plant 3/8 inch spines which gray with age. The surrounding area is typically dry, sunny, and south-facing.

Size:
Stenocereus thurberi come in many sizes, though they take a long time to grow the cacti stems can grow up to 26 feet tall. Most common Stenocereus thurberi range between 10 and 16 feet tall. Stems are usually 6 inches in width and grow in a radial pattern that can grow to be 12 feet wide at the base. Despite the wide range of size, it takes 150 years for a plant to reach maturity and many do not grow to full maturity before they die or are eaten by desert animals.

Identifying features:
There are no flowers on the organ pipe cactus yet, which is reasonable because blooming season is May to July. There are sharp, spiny thorn-like groups of 9 to 10 on ribs of plant 3/8 inch radial spines. The ribs of the plant are green, waxy, and slightly rippled. The cactus is surrounded by landscaped ground which is dry, sunny, and southwest facing. Other plants in the surrounding area include the scotch broom and cork oak. The organ pipe cactus is mostly native to more southern areas of California; but because they are native to this region of the world organ pipe cacti are used in landscaping for appearances.

Location/Habitat:
Stenocereus thurberi is found in dry, sunny places like deserts, while this can be recreated with landscaping it is not very effective if you live somewhere very rainy like Portland, OR. The Stenocereus thurberi specimen under observation is located in a landscaped yard and the sunny warm summers of Davis, CA can mimic some desert conditions. However, special care must be taken during the colder, rainier months when Stenocereus thurberi are most likely to succumb to frost. Stenocereus thurberi are found in USDA hardiness zones 10 - 11.

Water/Sun Requirements:
Stenocereus thurberi prefers dry, sandy, alkaline soil in a southern facing area and will drown in soggy, wet earth. In the deserts where they are most often found the soil has a pH ranging from 7.6 - 8.9. Because they are susceptible to frost most wild and domesticated stenocereus thurberi are found below 3000 feet and rarely in low valleys where cool air accumulates.

Reproduction:
Stenocereus thurberi reproduce sexually via their night blooming flowers. The flowers are cross-pollinated by humming birds, bats, and bees. While self-pollination is possible it yields no fruit when it occurs, indicating an obligate xenogamous reproductive system in the cactus. This means the cactus can only play the role of a plant needing cross-pollination for reproduction, even though it is capable of self pollinating if needed .

Sources:
[|http://www.britannica.com/] [] [] [] [] [] [] [|http://esameetings.allenpress.com/]

Created by: Delany Pelz