Selenicereus grandiflorus
(L.) Britton & Rose
Cactaceae
Cactus grandiflorus L.
Cereus antoinii Pfeiff.
Cereus brevispinulus Salm-Dyck
Cereus coniflorus Weing.
Cereus donkelaarii Salm-Dyck
Cereus grandiflorus (L.) Mill.
Cereus haitiensis (K.Schum.) Schelle
Cereus hallensis Weing. ex Borg
Cereus hondurensis K.Schum. ex Weing.
Cereus jalapaensis Vaupel
Cereus nycticalus Link
Cereus obtusus Pfeiff.
Cereus paradisiacus Vaupel
Cereus rosaceus Pfeiff.
Cereus roseanus Vaupel
Cereus uranus B.Schulz
Cereus urbanianus Gürke & Weing.
Selenicereus coniflorus (Weing.) Britton & Rose
Selenicereus donkelaarii (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose
Selenicereus hallensis Weing. ex Borg
Selenicereus hondurensis (K.Schum. ex Weing.) Britton & Rose
Selenicereus jalapaensis (Vaupel) Borg
Selenicereus maxonii Rose
Selenicereus paradisiacus (Vaupel) Borg
Selenicereus pringlei Rose
Selenicereus urbanianus Britton & Rose
Common Name: Queen of the Night
General Information
Selenicereus grandiflorus is a spiny, evergreen, climbing or sprawling cactus with green or bluish-green stems that can be several metres long and around 25mm in diameter. The stems produce numerous aerial roots[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
,
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is said to be extensively cultivated by the pharmaceutical industry for its medicinal compounds and is also often grown as an ornamental[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Selenicereus grandiflorus is widespread, common, there are no major threats, and it occurs in several protected areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
,
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
Range
Southern N. America - southern Florida, eastern and southern Mexico; C. America - Guatemala to Nicaragua; Caribbean - Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republi
Habitat
Tropical dry forest, tropical subdeciduous forest, flooded forest, and coastal dunes, also found on exposed limestone rocks among scrubby vegetation in full exposure; at elevations from sea level to 1,300 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1996- Title
- Las Cactáceae de Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Véliz M.E.
- Publisher
- Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 99922-2-551-3
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
The fragrant flowers open during the night[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Edible Uses
Fruit[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The ovoid fruit is around 80mm long[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
The flowers and stems contain several acrid principles, including probably an alkaloid and a glucoside, to one of which the name cactine has been given. The drug obtained from the plant has an action similar to that of digitalis, and is used also in the treatment of rheumatism[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Selenicereus grandiflorus is used in tropical America for treating dropsy and as a cardiac remedy. It is said to be extensively cultivated by the pharmaceutical industry as a source of substances similar to digitalis for the treatment of heart problems[
1987- Title
- The Cactus Family
- Publication
-
- Author
- Anderson E.F.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 0-88192-498-9
- Description
- An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
