Xerophyte

Description

The Peruvian apple cactus or Hedge cactus (Cereus hildmannianusSN|6489]]SN|6489]]) is a perennial treelike cactus that grows like a candelabrum with numerous columnar branches, 5-10(-15) m high with distinct trunks. It produces numerous showy white flowers 10-15 cm across that are followed by goose-egg-size succulent fruits containing a delicately sweet white pulp with delightfully crunchy black seeds. It possess the added virtue that its stems are free of spines and can be handled it without worrying about impalement. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate and subsp. uruguayanus (R.Kiesling). The latter usually much more spiny.

Flowers

Very large, nocturnal, elongated, funnelform, 20 to 30 cm long; inner perianth-segments white, broad and obtuse ovary naked, 2.5 to 3 cm long.

Blooming Season

It blooms at night in spring through summer. The buds grow quickly, shooting out from the branches like so many small snakes. Within two weeks, dozens of flowers open, always at night and all or nearly all flowers open simultaneously at the same time. By midmorning the following day, all had closed and drooped. This is apparently a water-saving strategy by cacti. The plant usually buds and flowers about two weeks following any warm-season rain. The fruits usually ripen within a month. Buds may erupt well into fall, even early winter, if sufficient temperatures and rains fall. During dry times, the buds often fall off prior to opening.

Spines

Usually absent, occasionally a few golden or brown spines develop afterwards.

Ribs

(4-)5-6(-8), thin to obtuse, slightly indented, 2.5-3.5 cm high, rounded, green often with large yellow patches along the sides.

Stem

Cylindrical, segmented, bluegreen to dull green, often glaucous when young, to 15 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Pear-shaped, red with white pulp. The Peruvian apple cactus may produce fruit 3-4 years after propagation from seed.

Areoles

Distant, brown, large 2 cm apart.