About Deamia testudo (Karw. ex Zucc.) Britton & Rose
Deamia testudo is a cactus that clambers over or hangs from rocks, or climbs and hangs from trees. It produces roots along its stems that allow it to cling tightly to its supporting surface. Its stems are formed from segments that can reach up to 25 cm (10 in) long and 8 cm (3 in) in diameter. Stems most often have three ribs, but may have as many as eight. These ribs are thin and wing-like, measuring around 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) high. The areoles bear up to 10 or more brownish spines, each 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) long. Its flowers have a long thin base and widely spreading white tepals, with a total length of about 25 cm (10 in) and a width of about 15 cm (6 in). The fruits of this cactus are red in color and covered in spines. Deamia testudo is native to a range extending from southern Mexico (including southeastern regions, southwestern regions, and the Gulf state of Veracruz), through Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, to Nicaragua.
