Moonlight cactus
Selenicereus pteranthus
Selenicereus is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). Its botanical name is derived from Selene, the moon goddess in Greek mythology and refers to the open at night blossoms reference. Several species of the genus are known for their large, open flowers at night " Queen of the Night ". Often, so is grandiflorus meant selenicereus.
Description
Selenicereen are schlanktriebige, stem succulent shrubs. They grow terrestrial and climb accompanying vegetation and / or grow klimmend or hanging partially or completely epiphytic. The usually 1 to 2.5 cm thick, several meters long rung up to ten usually only slightly raised ribs. Sometimes the shoots are small but angular, flattened strongly winged and up to leaf-shaped Platykladien. These are then ganzrandig and climbing close to the host plants pressed ( selenicereus testudo ) or are deeply incised into a frond -like structure ( selenicereus chrysocardium ). Frequently form the rung aerial roots, which are converted into real contact with the ground roots and multiply the resulting plants vegetatively. The standing on the ribs areoles bear only a few short and needle-like thorns, and sometimes short-lived hair.
The individually appearing from the areoles flowers are dedicated to a pollination by bats. They open at night, often for only a few hours a night ( " Queen of the Night " ), sometimes a few nights in a row. With up to 30 cm in length and diameter, they are very large and usually pleasantly fragrant, rare odorless. Ovary and flower tubes are outside spines short and sometimes hairy. The outer bracts are reddish to brownish, the inner are white to pale yellow. The numerous stamens are in two groups, the pen is long, thick and often hollow. Costs incurred after fertilization large fruits are usually red, rarely yellow, and contain many seeds in a juicy pulp.
Systematics and distribution
The distribution of the genus selenicereus extends from the southern United States via Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean to northern South America vob.
Alwin Berger presented selenicereus 1905 as a sub-section of Cereus ( Cereus subsect. Selenicereus ) on. Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose brought the sub-section in 1909 in the rank of a genus. The type species of the genus Cactus grandiflorus. After David Richard Hunt can the genus into five sections divided with the following types:
- Section selenicereus selenicereus atropilosus
- Selenicereus coniflorus
- Selenicereus donkelaarii
- Selenicereus grandiflorus Selenicereus grandiflorus subsp. grandiflorus
- Selenicereus grandiflorus subsp. lautneri
- Section Salmdyckia D.R.Hunt selenicereus extensus
- Selenicereus inermis
- Selenicereus innesii
- Selenicereus megalanthus
- Selenicereus murrillii
- Selenicereus setaceus
- Selenicereus spinulosus
- Selenicereus Trica
- Selenicereus vagans
- Selenicereus wercklei
- Section Cryptocereus (Alexander) D.R.Hunt selenicereus anthonyanus
- Section Strophocactus ( Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt selenicereus wittii
- Section Deamia ( Britton & Rose) D.R.Hunt selenicereus testudo
Assigning
- Selenicereus chontalensis
- Selenicereus chrysocardius
- Selenicereus dorschianus
Is unclear.
Synonyms for the species are Strophocactus Britton & Rose, Deamia Britton & Rose, Medio Cactus Britton & Rose, Cryptocereus Alexander, Pseudoselenicereus Innes and Chiapasophyllum Doweld.