Night Blooming Cereus (Cacti)

[xstitcher]

My friend has one of these which is just about to bloom? My question is what job does the flower do if out in a natural environment that allows it only to bloom overnight?

[pastafreak]

I came across this,but cannot link to the page.
Assuming the flowers are white....

//Why do white flowers bloom at night?
1. White stands out better in low light conditions making it easier for insects to find. 2. As they bloom at night the plant does not have to waste resources producing coloured pigments (for petals) to attract day insects (such as bees) – most night blooming flowers are pollinated by moths and bats.//

[xstitcher]

Mostly white I think. Thank you.

[Chipchopper]

possibly pollinated by nocturnal creatures like moths or even bats.

[Chipchopper]

Just looked on youtube and in that case the pollinators were palmetto bugs and cockroach's

[xstitcher]

This is getting interesting, but I still wonder why it's for such a short time....too bad that David Attenborough isn't on here.

[gingejbee]

Yes, I've had flowering cacti but the flowers are very transient....pity, because they can be very attractive.

[wildwood]

You're right xstitcher, these Nature subjects can become very interesting when one starts 'digging'.

COPIED FROM HOMEGUIDES.....

//All flowers known as night blooming cereus bear large, fragrant flowers about 6 inches in diameter; the creamy-white blooms have many petals and appear atop a long tube, about 6 inches long. The flower center contains several yellow stamens that are exposed when the flowers open at dusk and may not be in full bloom until after midnight. These blooms quickly wither within an hour or so of sunrise and do not reopen.
Bats and Moths Attraction
Night blooming flowers, like night blooming cereus, are white and reflect the moonlight, making them glow and attract potential pollinators. The night-bloomers generally emit a strong sent that attracts the moths and bats that feed on their nectar. Bats, like the pallid bat, also feed on insects, as well as nectar. While these bats act as pollinators, they also eat mosquitoes, up to 600 an hour.//

We know that bats have very sensitive antennae that can detect other moth's pheromones from miles away, so the fragrant stamens should be no problem to locate.

[xstitcher]

The answers I'm getting are now making me think of the handkerchief tree.