Chichipe
Polaskia chichipe

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A tree shaped cactus. It can be 5 m high. The trunk can be 1 m thick. The crown is strongly branched. The shoots are about 10 cm thick. They have 7-12 ribs and yellow flesh. The flowers are white. They are very small. Flowers open in the daytime. The fruit are 2-3 cm across. They are red. They are edible.

There is only one Polaskia species. Presumably in a hot house in Slovenia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. They need a warm sunny position. They need bright sunlight. They need to overwinter above 15°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America

How it is used for food

Fruit are sold in markets in Mexico.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chichebe, Chichituna

Synonyms

Lemaireocereus chichipe (Gosselin) Britton & Rose; Lemaireocereus mixtecensis (J. A. Purpus) Britton & Rose;