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Night-blooming cereus, also called Queen of the night or Reina de la noche, are names of several genera and species of nightblooming cactus. The night blooming cereus is also known as the lunar flower, moon flower and luna flower. This plant is native to the Sonoran Desert in North America. The plant grows as a thin, almost dead looking stick from a single stem in the ground. They bloom just on one or two nights of the year, typically around May 30. Beneath the ground is a large tuber, often the size of a watermelon, that was eaten by Indians and early settlers because of its nutritious content. Pack rats often eat these blossoms before morning, so catching a glimpse of them can be fleeting. They often stay open until the early morning hours, but then close up for another year.

writelots wrote:It was a great night for cactus blooms - made me want to start my own little geggii garden here at home... Nice hanging out with Sierna and seeing JeffMac and his fam. Such a great community event! We need more things to motivate young people to get out in the desert at night, especially in the summer!