old man cactus
Pilosocereus leucocephalus (Poselg.) Byles & G.D.Rowley
Pilosocereus leucocephalus, known as old man cactus, is a cactus species in the Cactaceae family, native to Mexico and Central America. It is recognized for its ecological importance as a keystone species in dry Mesoamerican landscapes. The cactus provides hydration and sugar through its fruit to frugivores including birds, bats, and reptiles. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Description
Pilosocereus leucocephalus is distributed across several regions including Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Common names include old man cactus, old man of Mexico, tuno, and woolly torch. This species was published in 1957 and is valued for its ecological role in arid environments.
Other common names
old man cactusold-man-of-Mexico
Distribution
Global · Guatemala · Honduras · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Mexico Southeast · Mexico Southwest · Nicaragua
Synonyms
Pilocereus flavicomusPilosocereus maxoniiPilocereus maxoniiPilocereus cometesCephalocereus cometesCephalocereus leucocephalusCephalocereus maxoniiCephalocereus palmeriCephalocereus sartorianusCephalophorus palmeriCereus cometesCereus flavicomusCereus houlletiiCereus jubatusCereus maxoniiCereus sartorianusCereus victoriensisCephalocereus palmeri var. sartorianusPilocereus leucocephalusCereus foersteriCereus houlletiiPilocereus maxoniiPilocereus palmeriPilosocereus palmeriPilocereus sartorianusCereus sartorianusPilosocereus sartorianusPilocereus jubatusPilosocereus cometesPilocereus foersteri
