Cereus

This species have a good number of cacti & many varieties of it. They are found in the West Indies & between north South America to southern Argentina. Due to their location, Cereus tolerates large amounts of the sun & the needless to say, the heat.

The shape & size is anywhere from being a small shrubby bushes to tall columnar types & the colours go from green to powder blue. The prominent ribs can be between four & nine with their areoles apart from each other.

When the cactus is large it's likely to have nocturnal flowers, which are scented. Needless to say, mine aren't big enough therefore no flowers.

The Latin word Cereus is translated to wax candle.

This Cereus peruvianus monstrose is fast growing & in the right conditions can grow 12" per year, which ends at about 10' high. It can deal with brief periods of frost but if the temperature drops to below -4 degress Centigrade, it will be damaged. The other main cause for damage & often death, is over-watering, which I'm afraid to say that I've been guilty.

A good mate, Doug from Canberra, spoke to his parents & they said this was in the Cereus genus. I didn't get the species name but they said that these cacti are used as root stocks in grafting.

Cacti Links

Other Succulents

Other cactus & succulent Web sites.

Site Links

NB If you do e-mail, notice I've changed @ to AT to stop possible e-mail spammers so before you send, swap it back.