Characteristics
A tree like cactus. It grows to 2-5 m tall. The joints are flat and almost round. They are greyish-green and 30 cm wide. They are covered with slender spines which are 5 cm long. Several spines can occur together. The flowers are yellow. They are about 7 cm across. The fruit are deep red.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
shrub
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
endozoochory
|
| Mature width (meter) |
0.5 - 1.0
|
| Mature height (meter) |
1.0 - 1.25
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a warm temperate plant. It needs bright sunlight. It needs a temperature above 10°C. In Argentina it grows between 300-2,100 m above sea level. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Adelaide Botanical Gardens.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The young circular pads are eaten. They are cooked with onions, peppers, cheese, eggs and spices and used as fillings in tacos. They are also marinated and eaten in salads or cooked with other foods. The fruit are eaten raw or pureed or made into jellies, jams and pies. They are also used for syrup and fermented drinks.
Cultivation
Can be grown by seedlings.
| Mode |
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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