Plants Belonging to the Genus 'Cereus'

Cereus

There are about 40 species of Cereus in the Caribbean and South America. The classification of Cereus has been in flux for years, and the exact number of species varies from author to author. Generally they are tall, columnar, easy growing cacti. The varieties coming from the Caribbean or from the equatorial parts of South America often require heat in winter. The areoles of the Cereus don't have long hair.

The flowers do not have areoles or spines, but they have a few scales. They are generally large, white, either funnel or trumpet-shaped. They are followed by a yellow or red fruit, generally edible containing black seeds.

They are easily propagated by cuttings, but are also easy to grow from seeds, although then they are much slower to grow.

Species and varieties
Cereus andalgalensis (Red Torch Cactus) synonym of Echinopsis huascha
Cereus articulatus (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Cereus candicans synonym of Echinopsis candicans
Cereus candicans var. courantii synonym of Echinopsis candicans
Cereus celsianus (Old Man of the Andes) synonym of Oreocereus celsianus
Cereus giganteus (Saguaro, Sahuaro) synonym of Carnegiea gigantea
Cereus gladiatus synonym of Echinopsis candicans
Cereus huascha (Red Torch Cactus) synonym of Echinopsis huascha
Cereus multiplex (Easter Lily Cactus) synonym of Echinopsis oxygona
Cereus oxygonu (Easter Lily Cactus) synonym of Echinopsis oxygona
Cereus pachanoi (San Pedro Cactus) synonym of Echinopsis pachanoi
Cereus pectinatus (Comb Hedgehog) synonym of Echinocereus pectinatus
Cereus santiaguensis (Golden Torch Cereus) synonym of Echinopsis spachiana
Cereus senilis (Old Man Cactus, Old Man of Mexico, Cabeza de Viejo) synonym of Cephalocereus senilis
Cereus spachianus (Golden Torch Cereus) synonym of Echinopsis spachiana
Cereus terscheckii (Cardon Grande) synonym of Echinopsis terscheckii

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