Heliocereus

The genus Heliocereus has 4 species from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This species has been used abundantly in hybridation, and many orchid cactus have it in their ancestry. The name Heliocereus comes from the greek for 'sun', associated to the genus name 'cereus'. It relates to the fact that its flowers open in the sun. Recently the genus Heliocereus has been merged into the the genus Disocactus Heliocereus are epiphytic or saxicolous (living in cliffs or rocky ledges). Their stems are flat to 3-4-angled, often spiny or hairy. The flowers are funnel-shaped, with a spiny or hairy tube. The petals are red, orange or purplish, one variety has white flowers. Species and varieties Heliocereus amecamensis synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus aurantiacus synonym of Disocactus aurantiacus Heliocereus cinnabarinus synonym of Disocactus cinnabarinus Heliocereus coccineus synonym of Selenicereus setaceus Heliocereus elegantissimus synonym of Disocactus schrankii Heliocereus luzmariae synonym of Disocactus schrankii Heliocereus schrankii synonym of Disocactus schrankii Heliocereus schrankii var. elegantissimus synonym of Disocactus schrankii Heliocereus serratus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus speciosissimus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus speciosus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus speciosus var. amecamensis synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus speciosus var. serratus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus speciosus var. superbus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro) Heliocereus superbus synonym of Disocactus speciosus (Santa Marta, Pitaya de Cerro)

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