= Pilosocereus nobilis (Haw.) Byles & G.D.Rowley
Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. xix. 67 (1957)
Accepted Scientific Name: Pilosocereus royenii (L.) Byles & G.D.Rowley
Cact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. xix. 67 (1957)
Origin and Habitat: West Indies, St. Christopher to Grenada.
Habitat: Pilosocereus nobilisSN|4687]]SN|4687]] may be found scattered in almost any dry site from exposed beach benches to rocky cliffs, plains and hillsides. with full sun and is often the most conspicuous cactus species.
Ecology: Branches often have cavities about 5 cm in diameter: the predator-resistant nesting sites of small doves and other birds. Flower are pollinated by bats.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Pilosocereus royenii
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Pilosocereus royenii (L.) Byles & G.D.RowleyCact. Succ. J. Gr. Brit. xix. 67 (1957)Synonymy: 59
Accepted name in llifle Database:Pilosocereus royenii f. cristatus (P.V.Heath)Brit. Cact. Succ. J. Volume 14 - pag.20. 1996 [as: Cephalocereus royenii f. cristatus P.V.Heath1996]Synonymy: 2
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Description: Pilosocereus nobilisSN|4687]]SN|4687]] is one of the local forms of the widespread Pilosocereus royeniiSN|4681]]SN|4681]], it distinguishes for the branches that are green, shining when young, not at all glaucous, 8 to 10-ribbed, but not sufficiently differentiated and considered merely a local variant of the latter (if not the same). Pilosocereus royeniiSN|4681]]SN|4681]] is quite variable and has received numerous unnecessary names of no botanical value (at least 30), representing no more than local phenotypes. Most of these names are not accepted by many botanists that treat them as synonyms, but they still have a value for a collector because they identify plants with particular characters.
Habit: Plants treelike, up to 8 m high, much branched and spreading, the ultimate branches slender, erect often with well-defined trunks. A 5 metres tall individual may be over 100 years old.
Roots: The root system is broad and near the surface to rapidly a absorb water from even the lightest rains.
Trunk: Up to 60 cm in diameter or larger covered by a is very thin, relatively smooth bark and reddish-brown.
Branches: Mostly vertical or sometimes ascending, slender, erect, green, shining when
young, not at all glaucous, 7-9 cm in diameter arising 30-60 above ground from a single trunk. Branches may branch again, and those yet again. The thick green skin on the branches carries out photosynthesis. Older basal pats of the branches often form a thick bark.
Ribs: 8-10 vertical.
Areoles: About 1 cm apart, at first producing only a little wool and this appressed against the ribs, but wool in flowering areoles very dense but short, white.
Spines: Up to 3.5 cm. long, acicular, at first yellow, soon brown.
Pseudocephalium: As Pilosocereus cacti age, they produce what is called a 'pseudocephalium', but in Pilosocereus nobilisSN|4687]]SN|4687]] the fertile portion is not well differentiated from normal vegetative parts. Flower-bearing areoles subapical and lateral, on one to three ribs, with long white hairs.
Flowers: Flower-buds obtuse or nearly truncate; flowers rose pink or purple-red fleshy 4 to 6 cm long; upper scales and outer perianth-segments broad, rounded at apex; inner perianth-segments purple; style exerted They extend horizontallv out from the branches and open at night, but last into the next day.
Blooming season: Flowers are found year-round when rainfall is adequate .
Fruits: Depressed globose, pulp white or red. Fruits are edible, juicy and sweet and contain many tiny black seeds. Fruits do not have spines. They are usually found year-round.
More...Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Pilosocereus royenii group
- Pilosocereus nobilis (Haw.) Byles & G.D.Rowley: has slender, erect stems that are green, shining when young, not at all glaucous, 8 to 10-ribbed. Distribution: West Indies, St. Christopher to Grenada.
Pilosocereus nobilis f. cristatus P.V.Heath: The crested form is nicely covered with golden yellow spines and white wool. It is also very strong and can grow up to 1 m in diameter and height (or more).- Pilosocereus royenii (L.) Byles & G.D.Rowley: blue-stemmed, tree-like cactus species 2-8 m high, often with well-defined trunks. Distribution: Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico Jamaica, Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Lesser Antilles.
- Pilosocereus royenii f. cristatus (P.V.Heath)
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug./2011
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) M.M. Grandtner “Elsevier's Dictionary of Trees: Volume 1: North America, Volume 1” Elsevier, 08/apr/2005
5) T. Kent Kirk “Tropical Trees of Florida and the Virgin Islands: A Guide to Identification, Characteristics and Uses” Pineapple Press Inc, 2009
6) David W. Nellis “Seashore Plants of South Florida and the Caribbean: A Guide to Identification and Propagation of Xeriscape Plants” Pineapple Press Inc, 01/gen/1994
7) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume 2, 1920
More...Cultivation and Propagation: Pilosocereus nobilisSN|4687]]SN|4687]] is a summer-growing and easy cactus to grow. It makes great potted specimens.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and an all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years. It will fill a large pot or pan in time however, so space is needed if it is to show of its best..
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Aerosol salt tolerance: It is very salt resistant and may be grown near the sea.
Wind resistance: It endures strong winds.
Watering: It should be watered regularly in Summer allowing to dry before watering again and kept drier in Winter. It is very drought-tolerant, but seems to do better with a little more water than most cacti.
Hardiness: It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates, needs anyway to kept above 12 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to 5° C (or even 0° C) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Ornamental uses: The striking candelabra growth form and minimal care required make this an excellent landscape accent plant on dry sites. It is also a robust plant that helps to stabilize poor soils. Young specimens do well as pot plants if given at least 5 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Edible uses: The sweet fruits may be eaten fresh, made into a beverage or pre-served as a condiment.
Traditional uses: The skeletal open network of wood fibres remaining after the death of the cactus has been used in various craft work. Chunks of the branches have been used as bait in fish traps.
Medicinal uses: Reports of medicinal uses were not found.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Remarks: Do not use fatty products (like horticultural oil, neem oil, mineral oil, and insecticidal soaps) that can fade and ruin the characteristic blue colouration of the epidermis!
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
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