Xerophyte

Seeds

Brownish, mm long, dull, roughened.

Description

IsolatoSN'>7939' alt='7670'>Cereus dumortieri#SN#7940'>Isolato[[Cereus dumortieriSN' style='border

Phenology

The reproductive period of I. dumortieri begins during the dry season in January and ends when the last fruits drop in July.

Flowers

Arising from apical areoles that flower more than once, sometimes forming acrown, open during the night but lasting until midday, odorless, tubular to funnelform, short, pale green to white, to 5 cm long, the tube and ovary bearing small ovate scales with bunches of felt and occasionally bristles in their axils, the limb about 2.5 cm broad.

Spines

Various in number and in length, of which 6-9 (or more) radials to 1 cm, and 1-4 central, the longer ones often 5 cm long, all at first yellowish or straw-colored but in age blackened.

Ribs

Generally 6, sometimes or 5 or 7, occasionally up to 9 on very old joints, triangular, with straight margins, obtuse, to 2 cm high.

Stem

Trunk proper short, 6 to 10 dm long, 3 dm in diameter or more, woody. Branches many, erect almost from the first and curved inward slightly, with numerous constrictions, very pale bluish green or somewhat glaucous.

Fruits

Oblong, small, 2.5 to 4 cm long, reddish-orange within, not spiny, its areoles nearly contiguous, felted and dehiscent when mature.

Areoles

Elliptic, approximate or often confluent with age, grey-felted.