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“Queen of the Night” is the name of the several genera and species of Night Blooming Cereus Cactus. Another name is Lunar Flower! This plant is native to Sonoran desert in North America.
This plant grows as a thin stick from a single stem in the ground. Beneath the ground it has a large tuber of the size of a watermelon.
American Indians and early settlers used to eat this tuber for its high nutrient contents.
This plant blooms for just one or two nights a near around May 30th. The flower stays open until early morning and remains closed for another year!
Pack of rats usually eat these blossoms before the morning. So catching a glimpse of this cactus blossom is very rare indeed!
Visalakshi Ramani