Selenicereus

"Moonlight cactus" redirects here. For the films, see Moonlight and Cactus.

Selenicereus
Selenicereus spinulosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Hylocereeae
Genus: Selenicereus
(A.Berger) Britton & Rose[1]
Species

See text.

Synonyms[2]
  • Chiapasophyllum Doweld
  • Cryptocereus Alexander
  • Hylocereus Britton & Rose
  • Werckleocereus Britton & Rose
  • Wilmattea Britton & Rose

Selenicereus, sometimes known as moonlight cactus, is a genus of epiphytic, lithophytic, and terrestrial cacti, found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The term night-blooming cereus is also sometimes used, but this is also used for many night-blooming cacti, including Epiphyllum and Peniocereus. In 2017, the genus Hylocereus was brought into synonymy with Selenicereus. A number of species of Selenicereus produce fruit that is eaten. The fruit, known as pitaya or pitahaya in Spanish or as dragon fruit, may be collected from the wild or the plants may be cultivated.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference GRIN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_30011812-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).