About Stenocereus chacalapensis (Bravo & T.Mac Doug.) Buxb.
Stenocereus chacalapensis is an arborescent cactus that typically grows 10 to 15 meters tall, with many branches arranged in a chandelier-like shape. It forms a distinct trunk that supports long, erect, tightly clustered gray-green shoots, which can grow up to 15 centimeters in diameter. These shoots have seven slightly rounded, uninterrupted ribs. This cactus produces 10 to 14 spines that range in color from gray to black, 5 to 28 millimeters long. These spines cannot be easily separated into central and radial types; the shortest spines emerge from the top of the ovate areoles. The fragrant white funnel-shaped flowers of Stenocereus chacalapensis open at night and stay open through the following day. Flowers can reach 11 centimeters in length and 7 centimeters in diameter. The cactus also produces spherical brown fruits covered in many spines. This species is endemic to southern coastal areas of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, specifically around Santa María Huatulco, San Pedro Huamelula, San Isidro Chacalapa, and San Pedro Pochutla. It grows on slopes and in valleys at elevations between 20 and 230 meters. It is found growing alongside Amphipterygium adstringens, Morisonia flexuosa, Cordia truncatifolia, Erythrostemon coccineus, Forchhammeria pallida, Guaiacum coulteri, Opuntia decumbens, Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum, Leuenbergeria lychnidiflora, Pereskiopsis diguetii, Pilosocereus collinsii, and Sarcomphalus amole. Bats including Choeronycteris mexicana act as pollinators for this cactus.
