Cereus Monstrose Cactus

Photos by Lisa E White

Cereus Peruvianus Monstrosus, or the Monstrose Apple Cactus, is one of my favorite cacti to paint.  Today is the first day of this blog in which I have included a sample of my artwork.   Cereus are columnar cactus, night-blooming, and produce a nice apple-type fruit.  The irregular, knobby ribs of the monstrose make this cactus produce interesting shadows.  Some grow into tall columns, and others break up into many tree-like branches like the one shown from my neighbor's yard.  Cereus are blooming like crazy this week, having loved the monsoon rains.  Guess they don't know it is autumn.