Xerophyte

Description

Cereus peruvianus f. cristatus is an unusual form of what is normally a columnar cactus. The standard Cereus peruvianus) is a perennial treelike stem succulent with many upright or slightly curved branches above, often with distinct trunks up to 10 m high.

Flowers

Nocturnal, each flower opens for just one night and then shrivels up, white with reddish tips, 12-15 cm long.

Blooming Season

During the warm season Cereus peruvianus produces several flower flushes, but crested specimens often fail to flower (depending on clones).

Spines

Often numerous, sometimes absent, grey, needle-like, bristly reddish-brown.

Ribs

Fairly low, rounded, somewhat compressed and undated, about 0,5 cm high.

Stem

Fan shaped, whorled, grey-green to blue-green, 6-8(-10) cm thick growing to 1 metre tall by the same width.

Fruits

Globose to elongate up to 4 cm long, thornless usually red with white pulp, but skin colour vary from yellow to deep violet-red.

Areoles

Small, widely separated with greyish-white wool.