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''Pachycereus pringlei'', also known as Mexican giant cardon or elephant cactus, is a species of 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." Large stands of this cactus still exist, but many have been destroyed as land has been cleared for cultivation in Sonora. The fruit of this cactus was an important food for the Seri people in Sonora, who call the cactus ''xaasj''.〔 *〕 The flesh of this cactus contains alkaloids, and may have been used as a psychoactive plant in Mexico. 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, as the bacteria can fix nitrogen from the air and break down the rock to produce nutrients. The cactus even packages symbiotic bacteria in with its seeds. ==Morphology== Cardon is the tallest cactus species in the world, with a maximum recorded height of , with a stout trunk up to in diameter bearing several erect branches. In overall appearance, it resembles the related saguaro (''Carnegiea gigantea''), but differs in: * fewer ribs on the stems * more heavily branched * branching occurs nearer the base of the stem * areoles and spination differ * the location of the blossoms, lower along the stem * fruit heavily spiny Its flowers are white, large, nocturnal, and appear along the ribs as opposed to only apices of the stems. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pachycereus pringlei」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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