Night-blooming cereus
Selenicereus grandiflorus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is a climbing plant with many side branches. These climb by aerial roots. It can be 6 m long. The stems are fleshy and 2-3 cm across. They are cylinder shaped with 5-8 ribs. There are spines in groups of five. The flowers occur singly and hang down. They are 15-18 cm long and near the groups of spines. The fruit are 8 cm long and red or yellow. The seeds are small and black in a white pulp.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, USA, West Indies, Winward Is.

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Nya-hmwe-gamon, Reina de la noche

Synonyms

Cactus grandiflorus L.; Cereus antoinii Pfeiff.; Cereus grandiflorus (L.) Mill.; Cereus hondurensis K. Schum.; Cereus kunthianus Salm-Dyck; Cereus nycticalis Link; Cereus obtusus Pfeiff.; Cereus rosaceus Pfeiff.; Cereus uranos (auct.) Schelle; Selenicereus grandiflorus subsp. hondurensis (K. Schum.) Ralf; Selenicereus kunthianus (hort. ex Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose;