bahama dildo
Pilosocereus polygonus (Lam.) Byles & G.D.Rowley
Pilosocereus polygonus (Lam.) Byles & G.D.Rowley is a cactus species in the Cactaceae family. It has a shrub- or tree-like growth habit and is primarily found in Hispaniola. Earlier taxonomic treatments have varied in its circumscription, with some including species now recognized as distinct. As of July 2025, Pilosocereus royenii is accepted as a synonym by Plants of the World Online, though it has also been regarded as a separate species. Common names for the species include dildo cactus, pipe organ cactus, and Royen's tree cactus.
Description
Pilosocereus polygonus is a member of the Cactaceae family, characterized by its shrub- or tree-like growth form. It is endemic to Hispaniola according to the narrow circumscription adopted by Britton and Rose in 1920 and supported in a 2019 review of the genus in the Caribbean and northern Andes. Earlier treatments in the late 1990s and early 2000s applied a broader circumscription, incorporating species now considered distinct. The species is known by several common names, including dildo cactus, pipe organ cactus, and Royen's tree cactus. As of July 2025, Pilosocereus royenii is listed as a synonym in the Plants of the World Online database, though it has also been treated as an independent species in some classifications.
Other common names
Key Tree Cactusrobin tree cactusbahama dildoDeering's tree cactus
Distribution
Caribbean · North America · South America · Global · Canary Is. · Dominican Republic · Haiti · St.Helena · Archipiélago de Cuba
Synonyms
Melocactus monoclonosPilocereus plumieriPilocereus monoclonosCactus polygonusCephalocereus monoclonosCephalocereus polygonusCephalocereus schlumbergeriCereus polygonusPilosocereus monoclonosPilocereus polygonusPilocereus schlumbergeriCereus monoclonosPilosocereus brevispinusPilosocereus samanensis
