Columnar cactus
Cereus hexagonus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A columnar or tree like cactus. It can grow 6-10 m tall. The trunk can be 25 cm across. It has a few stout jointed branches. These usually have 6 sharp angles. The ribs bear clusters of several brown spines. The flowers are large and white and flower at night. The fruit are pale red and have a thick rind. The pulp is white or pink and it has black seeds.

There are 34-40 Cereus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They must have acid soil. It grows in savannah.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Asia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Galapagos, Guadeloupe, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten raw. The stems can be used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Blue cereus, Cacto columnar, Cierge pascal, Kaktus ratu malam, Pitahaya, Queen of the night

Synonyms

Cactus hexagonus L.; Cephalocereus perlucens (K.Schum.) Borg; Cereus lepidotus Salm.-Dyck; Cereus longiflorus Alexander; Cereus perlucens K.Schum.; Pilocereus perlucens (K.Schum.) Werderm.; Pilosocereus perlucens (K.Schum.) Byles & G. D. Rowley; Piptanthocereus lepidotus (Salm-Dyck) Backeb.;