Weberocereus tunilla

Forest growth habit

At La Selva, Costa Rica, Weberocereus tunilla grew high in the crowns of primary and older secondary forest trees. Its green, leafless stems climbed trunks and then spread along large branches. The authors frequently found plants at heights of 25–40 m. Flowers developed near the ends of hanging stems, positioning them away from the branches supporting the cactus. [Tschapka et al. 1999, pp.554–555]

One night of flowering

Flowers opened in the evening and remained active for one night. In the studied material, they were approximately 5–6 cm long, with an opening 2–3 cm in diameter. The waxy-white perianth had a dull pink tinge. The open flower emitted a strong musky odour. Closure began after 4 a.m., and access was closed after 5 a.m.. [Tschapka et al. 1999, pp.555]

Nectar and pollen transfer

Across all-night collections, twelve flowers secreted a mean of 354 ± 76 µl of nectar. This is the sum of successive hourly samplings. Sugar concentration varied approximately between 15% and 19% by mass. During a visit, a bat inserted its head deeply into the flower, and pollen was deposited mainly on its chin and throat. [Tschapka et al. 1999, pp.555–557]

Observations identified Glossophaga commissarisi, Hylonycteris underwoodi and Lichonycteris obscura as visitors. Cactus pollen was also found on captured animals of the first two species. L. obscura was identified in a photograph at a flower, although pollen was not detected in the small sample of eleven captured individuals. Ants collected nectar, and the authors considered their contribution to pollination very unlikely. [Tschapka et al. 1999, pp.557–558]

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