Cereus
Cereus, commonly known as night-blooming cereus, is a striking genus of cacti prized for its spectacular, nocturnal blossoms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, various species hold significant medicinal potential in traditional practices, offering antioxidant properties and therapeutic uses that continue to intrigue modern botanical researchers and herbalists alike.
- Scientific name: Cereus
- Family: Cactaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Caryophyllales and the family Cactaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cereus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Cactaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cereus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cereus, is referred to by various regional names depending on the language. In Polish, it is called pałczak, while in Swedish, it belongs to the genus Pelarkaktussläktet. It is known as Церреус in Russian, fakľovec in Slovak, and ცერეუსი in Georgian.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | pałczak | Wikidata |
| sv | Pelarkaktussläktet | Wikidata |
| ru | Цереус | Wikidata |
| sk | Fakľovec | Wikidata |
| ka | ცერეუსი | Wikidata |
| lt | Stulpenis | Wikidata |
| zh | 仙人柱属 | Wikidata |
| fi | pylväskaktukset | Wikidata |
| ar | شمعية | Wikidata |
| uk | Цереус | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is noted within both France and Spain. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, it can also be found in Italy. Its range extends into Northern Africa, specifically within Tunisia. Additionally, the plant is located in Macaronesia, specifically across the Canary Islands.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Lesotho | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
Activities
Cereus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |