Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Cactaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose

  • Description

    Species Description - Liana to 6 m long, with many lateral branches, climbing by means of adventitious roots; stem 2-2.5 cm wide, 5-8-ribbed; areoles 1-1.5 cm apart along stem ribs, prominent, covered with whitish minute woolly hairs; spines acicular, 5-8 mm long, usually in groups of 5, yellowish. Flowers 15-18 cm long, hanging, produced along the stem or terminal on branches. Perianth funnelshaped, with an elongate, densely woolly tube; outer segments linear, salmon-colored, the basal ones scale-like and short; inner segments light yellow or whitish, petal-like, narrow; stamens numerous, in 2 rows; style longer than the inner segments. Fruit fleshy, ovoid, to 8 cm long, red or yellowish, with persistent scales, pulp white. Seeds numerous, minute and black.

  • Discussion

    Common name: nightblooming cereus.

  • Distribution

    Common in dry disturbed areas and along coastal trails (Cruz Bay to Lind Point). Hurricane Hole (A2835). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; native to Jamaica and Cuba, now widely planted and naturalized throughout tropical areas.

    Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Jamaica South America| Cuba South America|