Stetsonia coryne (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose 1920

Toothpick cactus, cardón, tuna

Toothpick cactus is native to dry, regions of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraquay. Sources differ considerably on elevations at which these cacti are found, ranging from “low deserts” to “high arid regions.” It is not found in the wild in North America. The genus, Stetsonia, honors the American lawyer and enthusiastic botanical explorer, Francis Lynde Stetson; coryne, meaning “stick” or “club,” probably refers to the clublike appearance of the stems.

Plants: Large shrubs 16–26′ (5–8 m) high, with multiple thick trunks. Stems are bluish gray, 3½–4″ (9–10 cm) in diameter, with 8-9 ribs and few segments. Spines are initially yellow, becoming black, with a central spine up to 1¾″ (5 cm) and 7-9 shorter surrounding spines.

Flowers: Funnel-shaped white flowers with yellow-white centers, up to 6″ (15 cm) in size, open at night.

Fruits: Globular, smooth (no spines), juicy, yellowish or reddish, 1¾–2″ long ⨉ 1½″ around (5–6 ⨉ 4 cm).

Habitats: High altitude arid regions in South America.

Edibility: Contains mescaline, a hallucinogen, and other alkaloids.

Online References:

References:

Stetsonia coryne description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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