Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus)

Distribution: northern Argentina, Uruguay, south Brazil

Habitat: on walls and rocky outcrops in pampa grasslands and deciduous forests

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Black list: Exotic species but NOT listed as NEMBA invasive (Not indigenous to South Africa)

Life form: Succulent plant

Usage: Horticultural

Comments: Many species of cacti are adapted for and depend on hawkmoth pollination for successful seed production. These Sphingophilous plants have pale, nocturnal flowersthat are trumpet-shaped (e.g., Echinopsis multiplex, Acanthocereus tetragonus, and Hylocereus hundatus) or tubular (species of Selenicereus and Stenocereus eruca). Hawkmoths are likely reliable long-distance cross-pollinators tht can carry pollen to isolated, self-incompatible plants. Night blooming sphingophilous flowers are largely unused by other types of pollinators, although various species can contribute to pollination in the early morning while the flowers are still open.
This species is on the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species for Soth Africa and may naturalise or even become an invasive, althpugh it is not yet NEMBA listed as an invasive.