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Cactaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Selenicereus monacanthus

Selenicereus monacanthus

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Selenicereus monacanthus is a spiny, succulent, evergreen, climbing cactus that can grow in the branches of trees or on the ground. It produces aerial roots which it uses to support itself[ 416 Title Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics Publication Author Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil. Year 2000 ISBN 85-867174-24-0 Description A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits. ]. The stems are 2 - 3cm in diameter[ 529 Title The Cactaceae Publication Author Britton N.L. & Rose J.N. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher The Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington. Year 1920 ISBN Description An immense work in 4 volumes. Many of the botanical names are out of date, of course, but the book contains a wealth of information about the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. Selenicereus monacanthus is widely distributed and locally abundant, it occurs in many protected areas, and there are no major threats affecting it. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeS. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua; Caribbean - Trinidad.
HabitatAn epiphytic species, usually growing on trees in deciduous, semi-deciduous, coastal plain, and lowland forest; at elevations from sea level to 2,000 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. ].