Pilosocereus royenii
Pilosocereus royenii
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of drier areas in the tropical lowlands, it will take very little frost before growing tips of the stems are damaged[1]. Grows best in bright shade to full sun[1]. Requires a well-drained soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. The plant probably flowers irregularly through the year. The tubular fleshy flowers extend straight and nearly horizontal, opening at night[2]. The tree cactus is remarkably well adapted to very dry conditions. The root system is broad and near the surface where water from light rains can be absorbed rapidly. The bulk of the plant is made up of soft, water-storing tissues, which are light green near the surface and yellowish within; juicy and slightly salty in taste. This retains water that has been absorbed after rains for use over long dry periods. The surface area is greatly reduced through absence of leaves, and loss of water to the air (transpiration) is correspondingly checked. The branches have a very thick skin which also retards evaporation and, being green, at the same time carry on the processes of food manufacture (photosynthesis), normally functions of the green leaves. Further, the formidable spines protect the juicy stems from animal life[2].
Propagation
Seed - Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pilosocereus+royenii>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Desert Tropicals — http://www.desert-tropicals.com/ ↩︎The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
- [2]Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands — Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H. · USDA, Forest Service; Washington. · 1964 ↩︎Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
- [3]Flora of Dominica, Part 2: Dicotyledoneae — Nicolson D.H.; et al · Smithsonian Institute Press; Washington · 1991 · http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/ · ISBN 90-10415 ↩︎A terse but very useful flora with a somewhat limited botanical description plus range, habitat and some uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
- [4]The Cactus Family — Anderson E.F. · Timber Press; Portland, Oregon · 2001 · ISBN 0-88192-498-9 ↩︎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..
- [5]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.