Hildmania cactus, Orange apple cactus
Cereus hildmannianus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A tree like cactus. It grows 8-15 m high. It has an open crown shaped like a branched candle stick. The flowers are 18-25 cm long and white. They open at night. The fruit has an orange skin. The fruit are 6-12 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. The are orange yellow with black seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on thin rocky soils. It grows in dry and arid climates. It can tolerate light frosts. It needs full sun but can tolerate low rainfall.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Paraguay, Peru, SE Asia, South America, Uruguay

How it is used for food

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit, cladodes, stems, petals

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The seeds are separated from ripe fruit and planted fresh. Seeds take 30-50 days to germinate. Plants can be grown by cuttings.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Cardeiro, Cardo-anana, Cumbeba, Kaktus hildmannia, Mandacaru, Tuna, Tunam, Ecle, Urumbeva

Synonyms

Cactus abnormis Willd.; Cactus peruvianus L.; Cereus abnormis (Willd.) Sweet; Cereus alacriportanus Pfeiff.; Cereus alacriportanus var. bageanus (F. Ritter) P.J. Braun; Cereus hildmannianus subsp. uruguayanus (R. Kiesling) N.P. Taylor; Cereus hildmannianus subsp. xanthocarpus (K. Schum.) P.J. Braun & Esteves; Cereus milesimus Rost; Cereus monstrosus Steud.; Cereus monstruosus K.Schum.; Cereus neonesioticus (F. Ritter) P.J. Braun; Cereus neonesioticus var. interior (F. Ritter) P.J. Braun; Cereus paraguayensis K. Schum.; Cereus peruvianus (L.) Mill.; Cereus peruvianus var. alacriportanus (Pfeiff.) K. Schum.; Cereus peruvianus var. cristatus Graebener; Cereus peruvianus var. monstrosus DC.; Cereus peruvianus var. monstruosus nanus K.Schum.; Cereus peruvianus var. nanus Salm-Dyck; Cereus peruvianus var. ovicarpus Hertrich; Cereus peruvianus var. persicinus Werderm.; Cereus peruvianus var. proferrens Werderm.; Cereus peruvianus var. reclinatus Werderm.; Cereus peruvianus var. tortuosus Salm-Dyck; Cereus peruvianus var. tortus Salm-Dyck; Cereus peruvianus f. alacriportanus (Pfeiff.) Schelle; Cereus peruvianus f. minor Salm-Dyck; Cereus uruguayanus R. Kiesling; Cereus xanthocarpus K. Schum.; Piptanthocereus alacriportanus (Pfeiff.) F. Ritter; Piptanthocereus bageanus F. Ritter; Piptanthocereus neonesioticus F. Ritter; Piptanthocereus neonesioticus var. interior F. Ritter; Piptanthocereus peruvianus (L.) Riccob.; Piptanthocereus peruvianus var. monstruosus (DC.) Riccob.; Piptanthocereus uruguayanus F. Ritter; Piptanthocereus xanthocarpus (K. Schum.) F. Ritter;