Stenocereus heptagonus

Stenocereus heptagonus is a species of cactus.^[2]

Stenocereus heptagonus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Stenocereus
Species:	S. heptagonus
Binomial name
Stenocereus heptagonus (L.) Mottram
Synonyms
Cactus heptagonus L. 1753 Cereus heptagonus (L.) Mill. 1768 Cactus fimbriatus Lam. 1785 Cactus hystrix Haw. 1819 Cephalocereus swartzii (Griseb.) Britton & Rose 1909 Cereus fimbriatus (Lam.) DC. 1828 Cereus grandispinus Haw. 1830 Cereus hystrix (Haw.) Salm-Dyck 1822 Cereus swartzii Griseb. 1861 Echinocactus hystrix Haw. 1830 Griseocactus fimbriatus (Lam.) Guiggi 2012 Griseocereus fimbriatus (Lam.) Guiggi 2012 Harrisia fimbriata (Lam.) F.M.Knuth 1936 Lemaireocereus hystrix (Haw.) Britton & Rose 1909 Neogriseocereus fimbriatus (Lam.) Guiggi 2013 Pilocereus fimbriatus Lem. 1862 Pilocereus grandispinus Lem. 1862 Pilosocereus swartzii (Griseb.) Byles & G.D.Rowley 1957 Rathbunia fimbriata (Lam.) P.V.Heath 1992 Ritterocereus fimbriatus (Lam.) Backeb. 1960 Stenocereus fimbriatus (Lam.) Lourteig 1991 Stenocereus hystrix (Haw.) Buxb. 1961

Description

Stenocereus heptagonus grows as a tree-like cactus with numerous candelabra-like branches, reaching heights of 8 to 12 meters. It forms a distinct trunk, and its upright to slightly spreading shoots can reach up to 30 centimeters in diameter. The cactus has 9–12 sharply defined ribs, each up to 1.5 centimeters high. Its spines include three gray central spines, one longer than the others, up to 4 centimeters long, and about ten grayish peripheral spines.

The flowers, which open at night, are 7–9 centimeters long, greenish to slightly purple on the outside, and white on the inside. Its spherical, red fruits are 5–6 centimeters in diameter, covered with spines that fall off when ripe. The pulp is red, and the seeds are black.^[3]

• 
  Stem tip
• 
  Fruit
• 
  Flower
• 
  Adult Plant

Distribution

Stenocereus heptagonus is endemic to the West Indies, including the Greater Antilles, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico (Caja de Muertos, Culebra, Desecheo, Magueyes, Mona), and St. John's in the Virgin Islands. Its flowers are pollinated by bats such as Brachyphylla nana, Monophyllus redmani, and Phyllonycteris poeyi. Plants are found growing along with Bonellia stenophylla, Bourreria succulenta, Guaiacum officinale, and Maytenus loeseneri.^[4]

• 
  habitat in Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island

Taxonomy

The species was first described as Cactus fimbriatus by Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck in 1785 and reclassified into the genus Stenocereus by Alicia Lourteig in 1991.^[5]