Harrisia simpsonii

Small ex Britton & Rose

Cact. 2: 152, fig. 223. 1920.

Common names: Simpson’s prickly apple Simpson’s applecactus queen-of-the-night
EndemicConservation concern
Synonyms: Cereus gracilis var. simpsonii (Small ex Britton & Rose) L. D. Benson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 153. Mentioned on page 150, 154.

Stems erect, reclining, or clambering, sometimes epiphytic and vinelike, to 4 m; ribs 9–10. Spines 7–9 per areole, 1–2.5 cm, yellow tipped or completely yellowish when young. Flowers: flower tube 10–15 cm, prominently ridged; scales turgid at base, with axillary tufts of hairs; hairs, white, soft and silky, flexible, 6–10 mm; buds with white hairs. Fruits dull red at maturity, depressed-spheric, 40–60 mm diam.


Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Sandy soils of dense thickets and hammocks, mangrove swamps
Elevation: 0 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

D. F. Austin (1984) suggested that the isolated populations and/or clones of Harrisia simpsonii are as different from each other as are the two species, H. aboriginum and H. simpsonii. These observations imply that varietal rank might be more suitable for the two taxa. Further study is warranted.

A number of nocturnal-flowering cereoid species with large, white flowers are known as “queen-of-the-night.”

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Harrisia simpsonii"
Bruce D. Parfitt +  and Arthur C. Gibson +
Small ex Britton & Rose +
Simpson’s prickly apple +, Simpson’s applecactus +  and queen-of-the-night +
Sandy soils of dense thickets and hammocks, mangrove swamps +
Flowering spring–summer. +
Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
Cereus gracilis var. simpsonii +
Harrisia simpsonii +
Harrisia +
species +