STEPHANOCEREUS

Autor: Berger

• ETYMOLOGY
“Crowned cereus”, referring to the characteristic annular cephalium of the unique species in this genus.
• DESCRIPTION
A monotypic genus of columnar plants, mostly solitary, rarely branched, reaching 2-5m high, with st;ems irregularly segmented according to new growth, bluish green, 13-18 straight ribs. Areoles close-set, strongly woolly, provided with 20 very short and white radial spines, and 1-2 longer and more stiff central spines, golden yellow. Annular cephalium densely woolly and hairy.
Flowers nocturnal, (self-fertile? pers. obs.) tubular to bell-shaped, appearing laterally, as well on the terminal cephalium as on former ones, creamy-white, pollinated by bats, also by hymenoptera. Fruits elongated, thick-walled, becoming bluish covered with wax when ripe, with white or red pulp. Seeds warty, black, dull, retaining an envelope of mucilage. Seed dispersal ensured by bats and ants.
• HABITAT
The monotypic genus Stephanocereus grows endemically in Brazil, between 270 m and 750 m in altitude, on variable soils, blocks of rocks, in crevices, on rocky outcrops, on quartz sands, among grasses and bushes, also in the caatinga, among the bushes where it emerges.
• DISTRIBUTION
Brazil (Bahia).

Currently only one recognised species:
– Stephanocereus leucostele* (Guerke) Berger 1926

References: "TAXONOMY of the CACTACEAE" -  ISBN 978-84-617-3692-8 (Vol. 2)