Stats

Lifespan

20-30 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Tropical dry forest

Range

Central America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Spines

Status

Uncommon

About

This climbing cactus grows on trees and rocks in tropical forest environments. Its massive white flowers open only for one night and wilt before the sun rises.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Caryophyllales

Family

Cactaceae

Genus

Selenicereus

Species

Selenicereus undatus