Selenicereus anthonyanus
Encyclopedia
Selenicereus anthonyanus is a cactus
species
native to southern Mexico
. It is grown as an ornamental because of its beautiful nocturnal flowers and unusual stems.
. When it flowered in the greenhouses of Dr. Harold E. Anthony in Jersey
in 1950 it was obvious that this was a great novelty. The species is rarely collected and most plants in cultivation are children of this first collection.
: Chiapas
. Epiphytic
in rainforests
. 700–800 m alt. Seems to be of rare occurrence.
and Weberocereus imitans.
. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 40°F in winter. Can be grown in semi–shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers only open for one night and are very fragrant, as to attract nocturnal pollinators. Flowers in late spring or early summer.
Flowers 10–12 cm long, (10-) 14-17 (-20) cm in Ø, nocturnal, very fragrant; pericarpel 15–20 mm long, green, bracteoles 1–2 mm long, olive green, their axils with dirty gray wool, grayish-brown bristles and stout, pale brown spines, 1–3 mm long; receptacle 3–4 cm long, 1–5 cm in Ø, terete, bracteoles 3–6 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, the lowermost with wool and bristles, the upper naked, the uppermost 8–10 mm long, madder purple; outer tepals outermost 1–2 cm long, similar to bracteoles, inner 6 cm long, spreading-recurved, lanceolate, madder purple; intermediate tepals 5, lanceolate, acute; inner tepals ca 10, 6 cm, lanceolate-acute, erect-spreading, cream, outermost cream with lower margins madder purple; stamens short, 15 mm long, yellowish; style 6,5–7 cm long, 6mm thick above the throat, in the throat abruptly contracted to 4mm thick, cream, stigma lobes 12-14, lanceolate, 16–18 mm long.
Fruit ovoid, 6 x 5 cm long, fragrant, areoles 4 mm with spines 1–2 cm, dark green. Seeds 2 x 1,5 mm, black.
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
native to southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is grown as an ornamental because of its beautiful nocturnal flowers and unusual stems.
Etymology
This species is named for Dr. Harold E. Anthony who first flowered this species in June 1950. The former generic epiptet Cryptocereus means literally "hidden cereus". It recalls the fact that the species remained unknown for a long time, even in a region that had been thoroughly investigated.History
Mr. Thomas MacDougall found this species in 1946. He though he had found a close relative to Epiphyllum anguligerEpiphyllum anguliger
Epiphyllum anguliger, commonly known as the fishbone cactus, is a cactus species native to Mexico. The species is commonly grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, fragrant flowers in the fall.-Etymology:...
. When it flowered in the greenhouses of Dr. Harold E. Anthony in Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
in 1950 it was obvious that this was a great novelty. The species is rarely collected and most plants in cultivation are children of this first collection.
Origin and habitat
MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
: Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
. Epiphytic
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
in rainforests
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. 700–800 m alt. Seems to be of rare occurrence.
Systematics
This is an isolated species with no close allies. Selenicereus chrysocardium seems the be the closest relative. Two other epiphytic cacti from other genera show similar strongly notched flat stems and which, when not in flower, are not readily distinguishable from this species: these are Epiphyllum anguligerEpiphyllum anguliger
Epiphyllum anguliger, commonly known as the fishbone cactus, is a cactus species native to Mexico. The species is commonly grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, fragrant flowers in the fall.-Etymology:...
and Weberocereus imitans.
Cultivation
An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyteEpiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 40°F in winter. Can be grown in semi–shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers only open for one night and are very fragrant, as to attract nocturnal pollinators. Flowers in late spring or early summer.
Hybrids
- 'Corinna Paetz' (S. anthonyanus x 'Feuerauber')
- ×Disoselenicereus 'Mandarin' by Dr. Stauch (Disocactus x smithii x S. anthonyanus)
- ×Disoselenicereus 'Noris' by R. Gräser (Disocactus speciosus x S. anthonyanus).
- ×Disoselenicereus 'Wormatia' by Dr. Stauch (Disocactus x smithii x S. anthonyanus).
Description
Stems scandent or climbing, branches in clusters at intervals along the stem, to 1 m long or more, 7–15 cm wide, flat with few areal roots; the lobes 25–45 mm long and 10–16 mm wide, somewhat tapered towards the rounded apex; areoles small, near central nerv, spines 3, short; epidermis green to yellowish green, smooth.Flowers 10–12 cm long, (10-) 14-17 (-20) cm in Ø, nocturnal, very fragrant; pericarpel 15–20 mm long, green, bracteoles 1–2 mm long, olive green, their axils with dirty gray wool, grayish-brown bristles and stout, pale brown spines, 1–3 mm long; receptacle 3–4 cm long, 1–5 cm in Ø, terete, bracteoles 3–6 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, the lowermost with wool and bristles, the upper naked, the uppermost 8–10 mm long, madder purple; outer tepals outermost 1–2 cm long, similar to bracteoles, inner 6 cm long, spreading-recurved, lanceolate, madder purple; intermediate tepals 5, lanceolate, acute; inner tepals ca 10, 6 cm, lanceolate-acute, erect-spreading, cream, outermost cream with lower margins madder purple; stamens short, 15 mm long, yellowish; style 6,5–7 cm long, 6mm thick above the throat, in the throat abruptly contracted to 4mm thick, cream, stigma lobes 12-14, lanceolate, 16–18 mm long.
Fruit ovoid, 6 x 5 cm long, fragrant, areoles 4 mm with spines 1–2 cm, dark green. Seeds 2 x 1,5 mm, black.