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See the mysterious night-blooming cereus in St. Petersburg

Photographer Bob Croslin captured the nocturnal plant in bloom.
 
A night-blooming cereus in St. Petersburg, Florida.
A night-blooming cereus in St. Petersburg, Florida. [ BOB CROSLIN | Bob Croslin ]
Published June 17, 2021|Updated June 17, 2021

The night-blooming cereus, Selenicereus grandiflorus, is a member of the cactus family and blooms at night for only a few days in June. The flowers last less than a day.

The plant, called the “queen of the night,” is well adapted to central Florida’s hot and humid environment.

These images from the Crescent Heights neighborhood in St. Petersburg were made at 10 p.m. and are a time exposure of five seconds lit with an LED light.

A night-blooming cereus explodes with blooms in a yard in the Crescent Heights neighborhood of St. Petersburg on June 5.
A night-blooming cereus explodes with blooms in a yard in the Crescent Heights neighborhood of St. Petersburg on June 5.

Bob Croslin is a photographer based in St. Petersburg, Florida. See more of his work at bobcroslin.com.