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Notes for the Genus:
Leocereus
Etymology -The name recognises a former Director of Rio de Janeiro Botanic gardens, Pacheco Lećo .
The genus, Leocereus was originally assigned three species by Britton and Rose in The Cactaceae, but 2 of these were moved into Arthrocereus by later authors and most everyone agrees that Leocereus should consist of just a single species.
These plants are characterized by long, thin, sprawling stems that reach over 6 feet (2m) in length, but not more than 1 inch (2.5cm) in diameter. The stems are quite woody having very little water-storing succulent tissue. These stems have numerous small ribs and closely-spaced areoles with needle-like spines that do not obscure the stem, but are noticeably present. Flowers are night-blooming, white and long tubes that are as wide as the the plant stems. Floral tubes feature scales, hairs, bristles and spines.
One of Brazil's many unique and endemic genera, Leocereus is unknown in cultivation.
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