Pitahaya
Hylocereus lemairei

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. A sprawling, climbing plant. It has many branches. It can grow in the soil and attached to other plants. It can be several metres long. The stems have 2-4 angles. They are dark green but become whitish with age. They are 0.5-2 m long and 3-10 cm wide. The ribs are smooth or wavy. There are 2-6 spines which bulbs at their base. They are needle like and straight and 2-10 mm long. The flowers can be single or in clusters. They are white and 25-31 cm long by 25-30 cm across. The flower tubes can be straight or curved. The fruit are narrowly oval and red. They are 7-10 cm long. They have a white pulp with black seeds. Probably now Selenicereus lemarai

There are 18-24 Hylocereus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can be grown in full sun.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw and used for juice.

The fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Common night-blooming cereus, Pitaya

Synonyms

Cereus lemairei Hook.; Cereus polyrhizus F.A.C. Weber; Cereus trinitatensis Lem. & Herment; Hylocereus polyrhizus (F.A.C. Weber) Britton & Rose; Hylocereus trinitatensis (Lem. & Herment) A. Berger;