Breadcrumb:
Home → Cactus Collection → Selenicereus → Selenicereus anthonyanus
Plant ID
GD-CAC-006-0046
Common Name(s)
Fishbone Cactus
Ric-Rac Cactus
Zig-Zag Cactus
Scientific Name
Selenicereus anthonyanus
Plant Photograph
Figure 1. Selenicereus anthonyanus
Photo Caption:
A trailing Selenicereus anthonyanus specimen displaying long, flattened green stems with deeply cut, sharply pointed lobes arranged in a distinctive zig-zag or fishbone pattern. The succulent stems cascade outward from the container, illustrating the species’ characteristic epiphytic growth habit.
Photography:
John Niño G. Ewa(@_____.5am)
Plant Description
A distinctive epiphytic cactus with long, flattened, succulent stems that develop a pronounced zig-zag outline. The stems are green and relatively narrow, with deeply divided margins forming a regular series of broad, triangular, sharply pointed lobes.
The photographed plant displays a strongly trailing habit, with several stems extending outward and cascading downward from the container. Young portions are narrower and less extensively developed, while older sections display the characteristic deeply lobed structure that gives the plant its fishbone-like appearance.
Selenicereus anthonyanus is native to southern Mexico and is adapted to an epiphytic lifestyle, growing naturally on trees and other elevated surfaces rather than as a conventional terrestrial cactus. It is cultivated primarily for its unusual flattened stems and its large, fragrant, nocturnal flowers. (powo.science.kew.org)
The sharply pointed lobes visible in this specimen help distinguish it from the closely related and frequently confused Disocactus anguliger, whose flattened stems generally have more rounded, saw-toothed margins. Based on the vegetative characters visible in the photograph, this specimen is best recorded as Selenicereus anthonyanus.
Life’s Whispers
Some plants find their beauty in the spaces between things. They do not need to stand upright or follow a straight path. Instead, they wander, bend, and reach outward—creating a pattern of their own as they follow the quiet rhythm of growth.
Navigation
← Previous Plant
🌵 Cactus Collection
Next Plant →
🌵 GREEN DESERT BOTANICAL LIBRARY
WHERE EVERY PLANT HAS A STORY
DISCOVER THE STORY • GROW THE WONDER