Cereus hankeanus 'Spiralis'
Cereus hankeanus 'Spiralis'
Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Turning left then right
This cactus cannot to be confused with any other cactus because of its spiral shape. The name ‘Spiralis’ indicates that it is a cultivated variety, which does not exist in the wild. Its wild ancestor does not spiral but is a large, branched tree-cactus from the dry plains of South America.
It was originally discovered, presumably as a mutant with its spiralling shape, in Brazil in the 1980s and exported to Europe where it has been the focus of experimentation. Through cross-pollination with other closely related species, further spiral cacti have been cultivated.
The cactus itself is not negatively affected by its spiral shape and intriguingly the direction of the spiral can change from left to right and vice versa.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Zuidas Botanic Garden.
A few branches from the original plant from Brazil were imported into Europe around 1980 for a very high price. The original clone was characterized by grey stems covered with a dense wax-like bloom ('pruina') coating and short spines (also known as the 'short spined clone'), but nowadays almost all traded plants are seed grown specimens derived from cross pollination with (presumably) Cereus peruvianus or Cereus stenogonus, they are usually a darker blue-green colour with longer spines, and there still remains considerable confusion surrounding the true identity of this plant.
Details
Description: | Succulent, cactus up to 5 m or more, (usually) without a single main stem that forms numerous tall, ascending, columnar stems which branch at the base in a candelabra-like arrangement. the ribs grow in a spiral. possible mutation of cereus forbesii. |
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Distributions: | Brazil? |
Habitat: | In forests, on hills, and on the edges of salt flats (cereus forbesii). |
Year cycle: | Perennial (trees and shrubs included) |
Hardiness: | 34 - 41 f (tender - cool or frost-free glasshouse) |
Flower color: | White |
Fruit color: | Purple, red |