Cereus Cactus
Cereus is a genus consisting of tall, columnar cacti that belong to the family Cactaceae. The genus currently includes 29 accepted species, all native to the South Caribbean to South Tropical America, growing on well-drained sandy or rocky soil.
These cacti are known for their towering height, with fragrant, night-blooming flowers that bloom typically between late spring and summer. Hence, they are placed under Night-blooming cereus, an informal group of ceroid or epiphytic cacti that bloom at night.
The blooming season is often found to change depending on the species and the climate they are native to. Some species bloom intermittently and multiple times throughout the growing season in warm regions.
Taxonomy and Classification
The name ‘Cereus’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘wax torch’ or ‘candle,’ which refers to its tall, cylindrical growth habit. It was first mentioned in 1625 by Tabernaemontanus and officially described by Philip Miller (1754).
The taxonomic position of this genus is given below:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Cereus
Description
They have elongated bodies with a shrubby appearance, often attaining a height of almost 15 meters (49 feet), as found in C. hexagonus and C. lamprospermus, among others. Most of their stems have ridges that often have spines growing on them.
They produce large, showy, funnel-shaped flowers, typically white or pale pink, that bloom at night. Their fruits are oblong, ovoid to globose. They appear in white, red, pink, yellow, or green colors. While the fruits of most species are edible, a few have a laxative effect.
List of Cereus Cactus
According to the Plants of the World Online (POWO) database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, there are currently 29 accepted species within this genus.
| Name | Distribution |
|---|---|
| Cereus aethiops | Argentina to Uruguay |
| Cereus alex-bragae | Brazil (Goiás) |
| Cereus bicolor | W. Central Brazil |
| Cereus fernambucensis | Brazil |
| Cereus hexagonus | Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela |
| Cereus hildmannianus | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay |
| Cereus gerardi | Brazil (Tocantins) |
| Cereus ingens | Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais) |
| Cereus lepidotus | Colombia, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela |
| Peruvian Apple Cactus Cereus repandus | Aruba, Colombia, and Venezuela |
| Mandacaru Cereus jamacaru | Brazil |
| Cereus spegazzinii | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay |
| Narrow-Angled Cereus Cereus stenogonus | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay |
| Cereus vargasianus | Peru |
| Cereus forbesii | Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay |
| Cereus mortensenii | Venezuela |
| Cereus fricii | Colombia and Venezuela |
| Cereus insularis | Brazil (Pernambuco) |
| Cereus lamprospermus | Bolivia and Paraguay |
| Cereus lanosus | Brazil and Paraguay |
| Cereus pierre-braunianus | Brazil (NE Goiás) |
| Cereus pachyrhizus | Paraguay |
| Cereus trigonodendron | Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru |
| Cereus saddianus | Brazil |
| Cereus horrispinus | Colombia and Venezuela |
| Cereus yungasensis | Bolivia |
| Cereus albicaulis | North-east Brazil |
| Cereus estevesii | Brazil (North of Minas Gerais) |
| Cereus mirabella* | Brazil |
*Cereus mirabella is considered a subgenus, C. subg. Mirabella by some scientists
This genus stands out for its nocturnal blooms and unique flowering patterns. Its aesthetic value makes the members of this group ecologically and ornamentally significant.