Etymology -The genus takes its name from the Greek brachys, meaning short, which refers to the plants fairly low-growing stature.
Most people think of wild reptiles or birds when they think of the Galapagos Islands, but this archepellago of unique fauna and flora also boasts some very unusual cacti. Brachycereus nesioticus is one of those. The monotypic genus features a cactus that seems able to grow in seemingly impossible conditions.
Brachycereus forms clusters of stems on exposed lava flows on several of the islands where virtually nothing else grows. The stems are cylindrical and grow to around 2 feet (60cm) in height. Spines are yellow to brown and cover the stem. Flowers are white and form on the end of a long narrow floral tube of just over 4 inches (11 cm).
This genus is virtually unknown in cultivation due in part to the difficulty of obtaining seeds or cuttings as everything on the Galapagos is strictly protected. It is also reportedly a difficult species to grow.