Guatemalan pitahaya
Selenicereus guatemalensis

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. The stems have 3 angles. They climb into trees. They are bluish or greyish-green. They are 4 m long and 2-7 cm wide. The ribs have bumps along the edge. The spine spots are 2 cm apart. There are 2-4 cone shaped spines. They are 2 mm long. The flowers come out at night. They have a sweet smell. They are 30 cm long and 20 cm wide. They are white and pink on the outside. The fruit are 6-7 cm across.

There are 18-24 Hylocereus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest. It needs light shade. It needs to grow in acid compost. It needs a temperature above 15°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, San Salvador, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

They are normally grown from cuttings which are dried out for a week or two.

Its other names

Local names

Pitahaya, Pitaya

Synonyms

Cereus trigonus var. guatemalensis Eichl.; Cereus guatemalensis (Eichl.) Berger; Hylocereus guatemalensis (Eichl.) Britton & Rose;