Praecereus

Praecereus is genus of cactus. It is sometimes included in the genus Cereus.

Praecereus
Right-hand plant is Praecereus saxicola (as Monvillea saxicola)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cereeae
Subtribe:	Cereinae
Genus:	Praecereus Buxb.[1]
Species
See text.
Synonyms[1]
Monvillea Britton & Rose × Prillea M.H.J.van der Meer

Description

Plants have a bushy to tree-like species that are sometimes stretched out, mostly freely branched and reach a height of up to 6 meters. The slender, columnar to hanging shoots have 7 or more ribs with protruding, round and gray areoles from which needle-like or umbilical thorns arise.^[2]

The robust, funnel- to bell-shaped flowers are white to yellowish green and open during the day. Its strong flower cup and flower tube are thick-walled, fleshy and often curved.^[2]

The fleshy, short, ovoid fruits that split open lengthwise are red with a persistent flower residue and contain white flesh. The black, bumpy seeds are oblong and ovoid and somewhat compressed at the sides.^[3]

Species

As of October 2023^[update], two species were accepted:^[1][4]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Praecereus euchlorus	Bolivia and Paraguay
	Praecereus saxicola	Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay