# Triangle cactus (*Acanthocereus tetragonus*)

The Triangle cactus is a fun-looking plant with tall, triangular stems. It loves sunny places and can grow very tall, making it a cool sight in the desert!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Desert

![Triangle cactus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acanthocereus_tetragonus_%28homeredwardprice%29_001.jpg&width=800)

Photo: homeredwardprice, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acanthocereus_tetragonus_%28homeredwardprice%29_001.jpg)

## Appearance

The Triangle cactus has distinct green stems, usually with three prominent ridges, giving it a triangular cross-section. It produces large, showy white flowers that open at night, followed by bright red, edible fruit. Its stems are armed with sharp, grayish spines.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Cactaceae
- **Genus:** Acanthocereus

## Interesting facts

- It can grow so tall, some use its tough stems as living fences!
- Its giant white flowers only bloom for one magical night!
- This cactus can sprout new plants from pieces of its fallen stems!
- Wow, its sweet, red fruits are related to exotic dragon fruits!

## Special abilities

- **Water Wisdom:** Triangle cactus can store lots of water in its thick, ribbed stems, helping it survive long dry spells in arid environments.
- **Night Bloomers:** Triangle cactus has amazing flowers that open only at night, attracting nocturnal pollinators like bats and moths with their sweet scent.
- **Spiky Shield:** Triangle cactus has sharp, needle-like spines along its ridges that protect its juicy stems and fruit from hungry animals.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-700 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-20 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bat

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** common short-tailed bat (*Glossophaga soricina*) — visits night-blooming flowers for nectar.
- **Pollinates:** tobacco hornworm moth (*Manduca sexta*) — large moth, visits flowers for nectar.
- **Eaten by:** Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — consumes the ripe, red fruit.
- **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — birds eat the juicy fruit, dispersing seeds.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
- [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful around cacti! Their spines can be sharp.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Triangle cactus?

Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Triangle cactus?

200-700 cm

### How wide does Triangle cactus spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on Triangle cactus?

10-20 cm

### When does Triangle cactus bloom?

Summer

### Is Triangle cactus edible?

Yes

### Is Triangle cactus toxic?

None

### What is Triangle cactus's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site
- [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Triangle cactus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triangle-cactus)