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The Monstrose apple cactus (Cereus peruvianus var. monstrosus) belongs to Cactaceae (the Cactus family). It is a treelike cuctus that is native to the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a monstrose (mutant) form of the more common columnar cactus "Peruvian apple". It grows in moist to sub-humid forests and reaches a height of 4.5 to 6 m. It grows as a single column at first and eventually branches out to form a multi-branched candelabra. The individual stems are gray-blue to gray-green with deep ribs. The flowers are large, white, trumpet-shaped, and bloom mainly in summer, from dusk until the next day. Pollinated by hummingbirds, bats and insects, the fruit is delicious and resembles dragon fruit.
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