night-blooming cereus

[ nahyt-bloo-ming ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various cacti of the genera Hylocereus, Peniocereus, Nyctocereus, or Selenicereus, having large, usually white flowers that open at night.

any of several cacti of the genera Hylocereus, Selenicereus, etc, having large fragrant flowers that open at night

First recorded in 1800–10

Some of the most common species in cultivation are the Phyllocactus species, often called the Night-blooming Cereus.

Systematically it belongs to the Cereus family, in which the notable Night-blooming Cereus also is naturally included.

Once more the night-blooming cereus oped its dank petals; and amid its murky fragrance I sank to rest.

The night-blooming cereus laid its ivory urn open to the moonlight, and a myriad of crickets chirped in one continuous jubilee.

The night-blooming cereus abounds, opening just at sunset, and closing again at break of day.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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