cereus

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ce=re=us

CIDE DICTIONARY

cereus, n. [L., a wax candle, fr. cera wax. So named from the resemblance of one species to the columnar shape of a wax candle.].

 A genus of plants of the Cactus family. They are natives of America, from California to Chili.  [1913 Webster]
" Although several species flower in the night, the name Night-blooming cereus is specially applied to the Cereus grandiflorus, which is cultivated for its beautiful, shortlived flowers. The Cereus giganteus, whose columnar trunk is sometimes sixty feet in height, is a striking feature of the scenery of New Mexico, Texas, etc.<-- saguaro?= Carnegiea gigantea -->"  [1913 Webster]