Night-time pollination of Leptocereus leonii by a Cuban bat

Leptocereus leonii is a cactus endemic to the Sierra de Anafe in western Cuba. A 2026 publication describes a study of 243 flowers, covering their structure, opening period, nectar secretion and pollination. The flowers remained functional for less than a day, and nectar production peaked at the beginning of the night. The experiment on the reproductive system and timing of pollination compared 185 flowers on 73 plants. Treatments using self-pollen and pollen from other individuals demonstrated self-incompatibility, with effective pollination occurring at night. The only recorded floral visitor was the bat Monophyllus redmani, identified by the authors as the pollinator.