candelabra cactus

Jasminocereus thouarsiii is a leafless treelike cactus growing to 7 m (23 ft) tall, with green or greenish yellow branching stems made up of individual sections 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long. The trunk and branches have 11–22 ribs. The areoles have up to 35 spines, each up to 9 cm (3+1⁄2 in) long. The spines vary in colour from white through to black, darkening with age. The flowers, borne singly, open at night, and are up to 6 cm (2+1⁄4 in) across, with many creamy white to yellow or olive green petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is a berry, greenish to reddish purple in colour, containing many black seeds. Three varieties are recognized by some sources; they are said to vary in height, flower texture and fruit colour, among other features.

Varieties. Three varieties are sometimes recognized:

Following David Hunt et al. in 2006, the IUCN Red List does not recognize any varieties.

Jasminocereus thouarsii is endemic to the Galápagos, where it is found on Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Santiago, plus some islets, including Bartolomé. It is found in arid areas, from the coast up to about 300 m (980 ft) on the larger islands.

The fruits of Jasminocereus thouarsii (particularly var. delicatus for those who distinguish varieties) have been used to make a fruit juice described as "refreshing".