''Selenicereus anthonyanus'' (also known by its obsolete name, ''Cryptocereus anthonyanus'') is a
cactus
A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gre ...
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
native to southern
Mexico
Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...
. It is grown as an ornamental because of its
nocturnal
Nocturnality is an ethology, animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have ...
flowers and unusual, leaf-like stems. Common names include fishbone cactus, rickrack cactus, zig-zag cactus and St. Anthony's rickrack, and is sometimes referred to as an
orchid cactus.
Description
The stems of the plant are ascending or
climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done ...
. Its branches are in clusters at intervals along the stem, to 1 m long or more, 7–15 cm wide, flat with few aerial roots; the lobes are 25–45 mm long and 10–16 mm wide, somewhat tapered towards the rounded apex;
areole
In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cacti out of which grow clusters of spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants. Gordon Rowley - Wh ...
s are small; epidermis is green to yellowish green, smooth. The edges are deeply lobed.
The fragrant flowers are 10 to 12 centimeters long and 15 to 17 centimeters in diameter. The outer bracts are purple and spread out until they are bent back. The inner bracts are ascending, cream-colored and yellow towards the flower throat. The seed vessel is 15–20 mm long and green in color. The pericarpel is covered with numerous small scales with gray wool, bristles and thorns.
The fruits are round or oval and up to 6 cm. They are full of thorny areolae, which drop off as they mature. Seeds are 2 x 1.5 mm, black in color.
Origin and habitat
''S. anthonyanus'' is endemic to moist lowland rainforest of southern Mexico, in the states of
Chiapas
Chiapas (; Tzotzil and Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 124 municipalities ...
,
Oaxaca
)
, population_note =
, population_rank = 10th
, timezone1 = CST
, utc_offset1 = −6
, timezone1_DST = CDT
, utc_offset1_DST = −5
, postal_code_type = Postal ...
,
Tabasco
Tabasco (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco), is one of the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa.
It is located in ...
and
Veracruz
Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...
growing at altitudes of to .
[Terrazas, T., Arreola, H., Ishiki, M. & Pizaña, J. 2013. ''Selenicereus anthonyanus''. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T152753A674371. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T152753A674371.en. Downloaded on 01 February 2017.]
Systematics
This species is named after Harold E. Anthony who first flowered this species in June 1950. The former generic name ''Cryptocereus'' (literally, "hidden cereus"
) recalls the fact that the species remained long unknown in a region that had been thoroughly investigated by Thomas MacDougall, who found this species in 1946. He thought he had found a close relative to ''
Epiphyllum anguliger''. When it flowered in the greenhouses of Dr. Harold E. Anthony in
Jersey
Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label=Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependencies, Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west F ...
in 1950 it was obvious that this was a great novelty. The species is rarely collected and most plants in cultivation descend from this first collection.
''Selenicereus anthonyanus'' was formally described by (Alexander) D.R. Hunt and published in Bradleya; Yearbook of the British Cactus and Succulent Society 7: 93. 1989
This is an isolated species with no close allies. 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 anguliger'' and ''
Weberocereus imitans''.
Cultivation
An easily cultivated, fast growing
epiphyte, ''S. anthonyanus'' needs a compost containing plenty of
humus
In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...
and sufficient moisture in summer. It can be grown in semi–shade or full sun, but should not be kept under in winter. Extra light in early spring will stimulate budding. Its flowers only open for one night and are very fragrant, to attract nocturnal pollinators. It flowers in late spring or early summer.
Hybrids
* 'Corinna Paetz' (''S. anthonyanus'' × 'Feuerauber')
* ''×Disoselenicereus'' 'Stauch's Mandarin' by Dr. Stauch (''
Disocactus × smithii
''Disocactus'' is a genus of epiphytic cacti in the tribe Hylocereeae found in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. It should not be confused with ''Discocactus'', which is a different genus.
Species of ''Disocactus'' gr ...
'' × ''S. anthonyanus'')
* ''×Disoselenicereus'' 'Noris' by R. Gräser (''
Disocactus speciosus'' × ''S. anthonyanus'').
* ''×Disoselenicereus'' 'Wormatia' by Dr. Stauch (''Disocactus × smithii'' × ''S. anthonyanus'').
* ''×Disoselenicereus'' 'Müllers Mandarin' ('Stauch's Mandarin' × ''Disocactus speciosus'')
References
External links
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q144855
anthonyanus
Cacti of Mexico
Endemic flora of Mexico
Epiphytes
Night-blooming plants