Origin and Habitat: Cereus jamacaruSN|6995]]SN|6995]] occurs in northeastern Brazil in Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Goias, and Minas Gerais. Planted in the West Indies; perhaps naturalized on some islands.
Elevation range. 50 to 1,200 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus grows in all kinds of situations from the coast
to the inland desert both in stony to sandy soil and on rocks of various kinds in caatinga, in agreste (ecotone between caatinga and mata atlântica), restinga, and cerrado The species can be abundant, being the dominant element in some areas of caatinga.The subpopulations of Cereus jamacaruSN|6995]]SN|6995]] have declined and continue to do so mainly due to habitat loss. However, it occurs over a vast area and within protected areas, and has the ability to re-establish after disturbance. Cereus jamacaruSN|6995]]SN|6995]] has also been introduced outside its native ranges and become invasive.

• Cereus jamacaru DC.
• Cactus jamacaru (DC.) Kostel.
• Piptanthocereus jamacaru (DC.) Riccobono

• Cereus jamacaru DC.
• Cactus jamacaru (DC.) Kostel.
• Piptanthocereus jamacaru (DC.) Riccobono
• Cereus jamacaru f. cristatus hort.
• Cereus jamacaru var. cyanea (Riccobono)
• Piptanthocereus jamacaru var. cyanea Riccobono
• Cereus jamacaru var. glauca (Riccobono)
• Piptanthocereus jamacaru var. glauca Riccobono
• Cereus jamacaru var. glaucus Ladenberg
• Cereus jamacaru subs. goiasensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
• Cereus goiasensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun
• Piptanthocereus goiasensis F.Ritter
• Cereus lividus Pfeiff. in Curtis
• Cereus perrottetianus Lem.

• Cereus jamacaru subs. calcirupicola (F.Ritter) N.P.Taylor & Zappi
• Cereus calcirupicola (F.Ritter) Rizzini
• Piptanthocereus calcirupicola F.Ritter
• Cereus calcirupicola var. albicans Rizzini
• Cereus calcirupicola subs. cabralensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
• Cereus calcirupicola var. cabralensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun
• Piptanthocereus cabralensis F.Ritter
• Cereus calcirupicola var. cipoensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun
• Cereus calcirupicola subs. cipoensis (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
• Piptanthocereus cipoensis F.Ritter
• Cereus calcirupicola var. pluricostatus (F.Ritter) Rizzini
• Piptanthocereus calcirupicola var. pluricostatus F.Ritter

Description: Cereus jamacaruSN|6995]]SN|6995]] is a large tree-like cactus up to 10 meters high, with a short, thick, woody trunk, very much branched, the branches usually erect, numerous, often forming a compact top. When living in dense forests it has a simple stem or only a few branches, growing tall and erect, the branches have few ribs, but these are high and at first very blue, covered with formidable spines up to 20 cm long at times. The flowers are large and white, buds usually appear in the middle of spring and each flower lasts only for a night. They blossom at dusk and wither by the morning . Its fruit has a very strong violet colour. The pulp is white with tiny black seeds, and it is considered very tasty. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate and subsp. calcrupicola (F.Ritter) N.P.Taylor & Zappi.
Derivation of specific name: The specific name "jamacaru", said by some writers to be the vulgar name of the plant in Brazil, is doubtless a corruption of mandacaru.
Stem: Main trunk distinct, woody, up to 60 cm in diameter. Branches cylindrical, segmented, when young often quite blue, to 15 cm in diameter, with few (4 to 6) ribs; ribs of young branches thin, compressed, high, more or less undulate, to 3.5 cm high.
Areoles: Large, grey, 2 to 4 cm apart, separated by notches.
Spines: Various, on old stems and branches numerous, awl shaped, at first yellow or brownish, later black, often very long, 20 to 30 cm long.
Central spines: 2-4, spreading, 8-20 (or more) cm long.
Radial spines: 5-7, to 1.5 cm long.
Flowers: Nocturnal, lateral, oblique, very large (up to 30 cm long, 18-20 cm in diameter), white; ovary purplish, bearing a few minute brown scales; stigma-lobes numerous, 2 cm long. The perianth cuts off early from the ovary, leaving the style, which is persistent.
Fruit: Large, sometimes 12 cm long by 8 cm in diameter, bright red, splitting down on one side showing the white edible pulp.
Seeds: 3 mm long, dull, roughened with blunt tubercles.
Chromosome number: 2n = 22.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Braun, P., Machado, M. & Taylor, N.P. 2017. Cereus jamacaru (amended version of 2013 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152911A121494380. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152911A121494380.en. Downloaded on 03 February 2018.
2) Taylor, N.P. and Zappi, D.C. 2004. "Cacti of Eastern Brazil". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
3) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume II, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1920
4) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
5) Geocities. "Cardeiro". Retrieved August 6, 2012. web: http://www.geocities.ws/ivankoelho/Plantasmedicinais.htm
6) Wikipedia contributors. "Cereus jamacaru." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Sep. 2017. Web. 3 Feb. 2018.
7) Ana Novoa1, Johannes J. Le Roux, Mark P. Robertso2, John R.U. Wilson and David M. Richardson “Introduced and invasive cactus species: a global review” Downloaded from http://aobpla.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Stellenosch on February 6, 2015
8) Juliana P. Castro, Luiz G.R. Souza, Lânia F. Alves, Ana E.B. Silva, Marcelo Guerra & Leonardo P. Felix. 1073 Marhold (ed.) “IAPT/IOPB chromosome data 15” TAXON 62 (5) • October 2013: 1073–1083

Cultivation and Propagation: The species is used to form living fences. In the past it was used as timber and for construction and boards suitable for boxes, picture frames, etc., are sawed from it. In most of the smaller houses in the country the cross pieces upon which the tile roofing is laid were made from this cactus. In times of great drought the farmers cut off the young branches from these cacti to feed to their cattle. The fruit is edible.