Desert adaptions: dragon fruit cactus

Dragon fruit cactus

The flowers of the pitaya or dragon fruit cactus (Hylocereus polyrhizus) are well adapted to attract bat and moth pollinators.

Dragon fruit cactus flower

The large pale green or white flower buds open only in late afternoon or after dark – often for just one night.

Dragon fruit cactus flowers

The round flowers are the size of dinner plates, with a sweet smell that appeals to bats and moths. Their wide, cupped shape is thought to reflect the signals of hungry echo-locating bats more than other flower structures.

Saguaro cactus flowers

You can find similar night-blooming flowers on other cacti. This is a saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), which is also pollinated by bats.

Bat pollination of a cactus

Bat pollination may be evolutionary advantageous because the animal’s furry body collects large amounts of pollen and carries it over long distances. This is important if plant communities become fragmented.

Dragon fruit seeds

Bats also act as ‘farmers’, eating cactus fruits and distributing the seeds to new locations. This is the seed-filled fruit of the dragon fruit cactus.