Selenicereus monacanthus
Selenicereus monacanthus
The Nightblooming Cereus (Selenicereus monacanthus (Lem.) D.R. Hunt, 2017) is a succulent species belonging to the Cactaceae family.
Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subkingdom Tracheobionta,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Subclass Caryophyllidae,
Order Caryophyllales,
Family Cactaceae,
Subfamily Cactoideae,
Tribe Hylocereeae,
Genus Selenicereus,
Species S. monacanthus.
The following terms are a basionym:
– Cereus monacanthus Lem.
The following terms are synonymous:
– Cereus lemairei Hook., 1854;
– Cereus polyrhizus F.A.C.Weber, 1897;
– Cereus scandens Salm-Dyck, 1850;
– Cereus scandens var. minor Boerh. ex Arendt, 1891;
– Cereus schomburgkii Otto ex K.Schum., 1897;
– Cereus trinitatensis Lem. y Herment, 1859;
– Cereus venezuelensis (Britton y Rose) Werderm., 1931;
– Hylocereus estebanensis Backeb., 1957;
– Hylocereus lemairei (Hook.) Britton y Rose, 1909;
– Hylocereus monacanthus (Lem.) Britton y Rose, 1920;
– Hylocereus peruvianus Backeb., 1937;
– Hylocereus polyrhizus (F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose, 1920;
– Hylocereus scandens (Salm-Dyck) Backeb., 1959;
– Hylocereus schomburgkii (Otto ex K.Schum.) Backeb., 1959;
– Hylocereus trinitatensis (Lem. y Herment) A.Berger, 1929;
– Hylocereus venezuelensis Britton y Rose, 1920;
– Wilmattea venezuelensis Croizat, 1972.
Etymology –
The term Selenicereus comes from the Greek Σελήνη Seléne, goddess of the Moon, and from Cereus (from cēreus cero: due to the columnar shape of many species of this genus), cereus: night-blooming Cereus.
The specific epithet monacanthus comes from the Greek μόνος (monos); “one” and ἄκανθα (akantha); “thorn”.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Selenicereus monacanthus is a plant native to parts of Central and South America (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela).
It is an extremely rare species in the wild; in its habitat, being an epiphytic species, it usually grows on trees in deciduous, semi-deciduous, coastal, and lowland forests. at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 meters.
Description –
Selenicereus monacanthus is a cactus that grows as a shrub or climbing plant, with only three slightly wavy ribs supporting the areoles, which sometimes have a small triangular extension at the upper end. It produces aerial roots that it uses for support.
Its stems (2-3 cm in diameter) are covered with thin white spines, with white night-blooming flowers that open to reveal long, delicate petals.
The areoles contain one or two spines, stiff and swollen at the base.
The flowers are white and pink, up to 17 cm in diameter and up to 28 cm long.
The pericarp is covered with a few non-overlapping scales. The flower tube is curved upward.
The fruits are approximately 13 cm in diameter.
Cultivation –
Selenicereus monacanthus is a climbing, spiny, succulent, evergreen cactus that can grow on tree branches or on the ground.
The plant is collected from the wild for local use as a food, medicine, and source of materials.
The plant is best grown in warm tropical lowland climates with low to high rainfall where it grows naturally.
Plants can tolerate occasional short-term frosts down to -1°C (30°F).
It is often an epiphytic plant, although it also grows on the ground.
It requires well-drained soil and a pH of 6 or lower.
The fragrant flowers open at night.
Propagation can be done by seed or stem cuttings.
Uses and Traditions –
Selenicereus monacanthus is a plant that was initially described as Cereus monacanthus by Charles Lemaire and published in L’Horticulteur Universel in 1844; Today, it is both a synonym and a basionym of this genus.
It was later transferred to the genus Hylocereus by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose in The Cactaceae; descriptions and illustrations of plants of the cactus family 2:190, vol. 29, in 1920, a scientific name that is also currently a synonym.
It was later transferred to the genus Selenicereus by David Richard Hunt in Cactaceae Systematics Initiatives: Bulletin of the International Cactaceae Systematics Group 36:33, in 2017.
Ecologically, Selenicereus monacanthus is widely distributed and locally abundant. It is found in many protected areas and faces no major threats. The plant is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2017).
Preparation Method –
Selenicereus monacanthus is a plant that lends itself to edible uses.
The fruits can be eaten raw and have a fleshy, dark red pulp with a slightly sweet and refreshing flavor.
The fruit can be used to make juice.
Medicinally, the stems are used to treat burns.
The plant (part unspecified) is used as a red dye.
Finally, the fruit is used as a children’s toy during Carnival.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (eds.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy: Advice and Experiences with Medicinal Herbs, Ennsthaler Publishers.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/461176280/original.jpg
– https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/The_Cactaceae_Vol_II%2C_plate_XXIX_filtered.jpg
Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and dietary uses are provided for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute medical prescriptions. We therefore decline any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic, or nutritional purposes.