Pachycereus pringlei (also known as Mexican giant cardon or elephant cactus) is a species of large cactus native to northwestern Mexico, in the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora. It is commonly known as cardón, a name derived from the Spanish word cardo, meaning "thistle"; additionally, it is often referred to as sabueso (or "bloodhound"), which is possibly an early Spanish interpretation of the native Seri term for the plant, xaasj.
Large stands of this cactus still exist, but many have been destroyed as land has been cleared for cultivation in Sonora.
Climate change will likely affect the future distribution of numerous plant species, including Pachycereus pringlei, which can be attributed to alterations in precipitation and temperature.
The cactus fruits were always an important food for the Seri people, in Sonora; the dried cactus columns themselves could be used for construction purposes, as well as for firewood.
A symbiotic relationship with bacterial and fungal colonies, on its roots, allows P. pringlei to grow on bare rock, even where no soil is available at all; the cactus has the distinction of being lithophytic as needed. The root's bacterial colonies can fix nitrogen from the air and break down the rock to expose hidden sources of nutrients. The cactus even evolved to maintain this symbiotic bacteria within its seeds, serving to benefit by taking it on as part of its very physical biology.
Morphology
A cardon specimen is the tallest living cactus in the world, with a maximum recorded height of , It is a slow-growing plant with a lifespan measured in hundreds of years. One way scientists have aged these cacti has been to use radiocarbon dating to test the spines closest to the ground. Growth can be significantly enhanced in its initial stages by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria such as Azospirillum species. Most adult cardon have several side branches that may be as massive as the trunk. The resulting tree may attain a weight of 25 tons.
Constituents and biological effects
Pachycereus pringlei has psychedelic effects and appears to have been used by ancient people in Baja California, Mexico, as an entheogen. This was discovered by businessman Earl Crockett, who then contacted and became acquainted with Alexander Shulgin. According to Shulgin, N-methylmescaline, in combination with MAOIs also present in the cactus that allow N-methylmescaline to become orally active, may be the active psychedelic constituent. In any case, Shulgin's hypothesis of Pachycereus pringleis psychedelic activity remains unconfirmed, and the active constituents have yet to be fully resolved. On the other hand, trichocereine (N,N-dimethylmescaline) has been reported to be psychedelic, although these findings are conflicting and controversial. In addition, methyl-TMA (N-methyl-TMA) and N-methyl-DOET are known to be psychedelic at sufficiently high doses. No naturally occurring isoquinolines are known to be hallucinogenic in humans.
Some of the alkaloids in Pachycereus pringlei, like carnegine, are known to have toxic effects in animals, for instance strychnine-like convulsions.
References
External links
- Cacti Guide: Pachycereus pringlei
- Video of a Cardón Planting
- Sasha Shulgin discussing a cacti that contains no mescaline, yet is still active - Reddit