CactiGuide.com
cactus pictures




Cactus Family                                                                                                
CactiGuide.com Custom Nomenclature - System Default    About This | Login
Notes for the Genus:

Escontria

Etymology -Named after the Mexican - Senor Don Blas Escontria
Escontria currently consists of a single species native to Southern Mexico. Another species, E. lepidantha (= Pachycereus lepidanthus) was also included for a time, but since been moved into Pachycereus. For a little over a decade, Escontria was placed into Myrtillocactus for its many similar features. In general, Escontria grows to be good-sized trees with many branches. The stems up to 5 inches (12cm) in diameter have 6-8 well-defined ribs. A single central spine and several radial spines are fairly short and stout from oblong areoles closely placed along the stem. The flowers of Escontria set it apart from the other Mexican cereoid species in the unique "gold leaf" appearance of the buds and floral tubes. This metallic sheen is due to the presence of translucent membrane-like bracts. The open flower is yellow and cup-shaped, but not opening much wider than the floral tube.

Plants of this species are not common in cultivation as their large size is not easily accommodated. The fruits which are the size of a large grape, purple-brown, with the papery bracts are collected locally in Mexico and sold in markets.

Escontria chiotilla


Common Name(s): Chiotilla, Jiotilla, Quiotilla
Synonym(s): Cereus chiotilla, Myrtillocactus chiotilla
To view publication details for this taxon and related synonyms Click Here.
To view a chart comparing alternate taxonomy Click Here.
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Distribution: Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Michoacan de Ocampo - Mexico (North America)
Habit: Treelike
Flower: YellowEncounterability: Unusual in Collections
This icon appears next to images that have been 3rd party verified. Click Here to learn more.
Click any picture below to enlarge.
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, AZ

Photographer: Daiv Freeman
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Desert Botanical Garden , Phoenix, AZ

Photographer: Daiv Freeman
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Juergen Menzel's Private Collection

Photographer: Juergen Menzel

Photographer's Website: Click Here
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Huntington Library and Gardens, San Marino, CA

Photographer: Daiv Freeman
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Grigsby Cactus Gardens, Vista, CA

Photographer: Daiv Freeman
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Grigsby Cactus Gardens, Vista, CA

Photographer: Daiv Freeman
Escontria chiotilla
E. chiotilla
Picture taken at: Grigsby Cactus Gardens, Vista, CA

Photographer: Daiv Freeman

*Currently 1 of 1 known species are represented on CactiGuide.com.


Do you have images of this species that would complement this page?

Visit the Big Picture Project to to learn how you can contribute.
© 2002-2022, CactiGuide.com All rights reserved.