Xerophyte

Habit

Small, branching basally to form small clumps with several stems.

Description

Pygmaeocereus bylesianusSN|3846]]SN|3846]] is a diminutive columnar cactus with short, dense rust-coloured spines and remarkably beautiful white nocturnal flowers which open for just a single night. In common with some other night-flowering species, the flowers have a rather strange but not unpleasant scent, which would no doubt attract the pollinating insect.

Roots

Large tuberous and fleshy.

Flowers

Nocturnal, wide funnelform, white, to 6 cm long. Floral tubes very slender. The perfume and long, narrow flower tube suggest that the natural pollinator must be a long-tongued moth.

Spines

Numerous, dark, changing to grey with age, radiating, 4-5 mm long.

Ribs

12-14, wavy, notched at first, then forming distinct tubercles.

Stem

Short cylindrical, dark green, up to 8(-15) cm tall and 2 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Globose to pear-shaped.

Areoles

Round white felted.