A curious Amazonian cactus, Selenicereus wittii , is about to flower for the first time in the UK at the Cambridge University Botanical Garden (CUBG). And the center is currently broadcasting it via webcam so that we can all contemplate when to bloom, something that is expected to happen at any moment. It will bloom for only 12 hours, a process that normally begins at dusk and ends at dawn.
“I am very excited to see and share this unusual bloom. It is very rare to have this plant in our collection and we believe this is the first time that Moonflower has been blooming in the UK ”, says Alex Summers, Glasshouse supervisor at CUBG.
The Botanical Garden's Twitter account provides updates on the current progress of the cactus flower by moonlight. Its current length is 19 centimeters and they hope that when it reaches 20 centimeters, flowering will begin.
Once the cactus blooms , it will open a white flower that reaches around 27 centimeters for just 12 hours, emitting a heady and sweet scent.
"The team has set up a webcam in the hopes of being able to broadcast the bloom live to share with other enthusiasts. Updates and information can be found via the garden's Twitter and Facebook feeds – @CUBotanicGarden – or by consulting the webcam page through the garden home page, "CUBG clarifies in a press release.
