queen-of-the-night

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• queen-of-the-night
• Peruvian Apple Cactus
• Pitaya
• Queen Of The Night

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cactus jamacaru
• Piptanthocereus jamacaru

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is a member of the family Cactaceae. Specifically, Cereus jamaicaru is identified by its genus, Cereus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within Southern Africa. It can be found growing in the Cape Provinces, which form a significant part of its habitat. Additionally, its range extends into the mountainous landscapes of Lesotho. The species is also well-documented in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Finally, its geographical presence reaches into the Free State and Esswatini.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cereus jamaicaru is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse array of environments, ranging from disturbed anthropogenic areas to specialized natural formations such as the Caatinga (sensu stricto), Carrasco, and Campo Rupestre. It is frequently found growing within vegetation over rocky outcrops, demonstrating an adaptation to lithophytic or rupicolous conditions. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying ecological niches from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Life history

The life history of Cereus jamaicaru is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As an evergreen species, it maintains its foliage and structural integrity throughout the year, lacking a deciduous phase where leaves or photosynthetic tissues are shed seasonally. This continuous presence of green tissue enables the plant to engage in steady metabolic processes and long-term survival within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cereus jamaicaru is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically presenting as a tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning without a parasitic relationship. In terms of physical stature, it exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 12 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 10 m. Despite its robust and tree-like structure, it is classified as a self-supporting plant rather than a liana or vine, meaning it does not require external climbing structures for support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cereus jamaicaru is characterized by specialized metabolic adaptations designed for survival in arid environments. It utilizes a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway, a strategy that allows the plant to fix carbon dioxide at night to minimize transpirational water loss during the heat of the day. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the assimilation of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cereus jamaicaru is characterized by the production of fruit that functions as a berry, which serves as the primary vessel for seed containment and distribution. These fruits maintain a consistent size, with a reported mean, minimum, and maximum length of 5 cm. In terms of seed release, the fruit is classified as indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. Instead, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to consume the fruit and transport the seeds to new locations, facilitating the colonization of diverse habitats.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cereus jamacaru has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STARCH, Terpenes.

STARCH

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Terpenes

1. Natural product research

Activities

Cereus jamacaru has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Cytoprotective, Neuroprotective.

Antimicrobial

1. Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins

Antioxidant

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antitumor

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Cytoprotective

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Conditions

Cereus jamacaru has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative damage, wound infections.

Oxidative damage

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Wound infections

1. Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins