Arizona queen of the night facts for kids
Peniocereus greggii is a special type of cactus that grows in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States. It also lives in parts of Mexico, including the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora, and Zacatecas. People often call it the Arizona queen of the night or nightblooming cereus. Its scientific name honors Josiah Gregg, an explorer and writer who studied the American Southwest.
Quick facts for kids Arizona queen of the night |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cereus greggii Engelm. |
Contents
What is the Arizona Queen of the Night?
This amazing cactus has thin stems, usually about 1/2 to 1 inch wide. These stems have 6 to 9 edges. The most exciting part about this cactus is its beautiful flowers.
How Does This Cactus Look?
The flowers are white and can grow very large, up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) across! They also smell wonderful, a bit like vanilla. These special flowers open only after the sun goes down. They close and wilt just a few hours later. By 9 AM the next morning, they are usually gone.
When Does It Bloom?
Peniocereus greggii usually blooms only one night a year. This amazing event happens in June or July. What's even more interesting is that in any one area, all the cacti tend to bloom on the same night! For the rest of the year, these cacti can look quite plain, almost as if they are dead.
This cactus also has a large underground part called a tuber. This tuber tastes a bit like a potato. You can find these cacti all over the higher parts of the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, Arizona.
Where Can You See It Bloom?
Tohono Chul is a botanical garden and museum in Tucson, Arizona. It has the largest private collection of these night-blooming cacti. Every summer, Tohono Chul hosts a special event called "Bloom Night." This is the one night when many cereus flowers are expected to open. The garden stays open from 6 PM until midnight. This allows visitors to walk around and see the beautiful flowers.
See also
In Spanish: Cacto huevos de venado o reina de la noche para niños
