Selenicereus undatus (Haw.) D.R.Hunt

Species

Angiosperms > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Selenicereus

Characteristics

A cactus which climbs. It has triangular stalks. Stalks can be 7 m long. It grows in soil and on rotting plant material. It has aerial roots enabling it to climb. The stems have joints and branched. The spine spots are spaced along the edge of the stems. They have a few short, dark spines. The flowers are white but yellowish-green on the outside and open at night. They are 30 cm long. The fruit are round and red, with long scales. Some varieties are pink or yellow. The skin is thin. The flesh is white with small black seeds.
More
Perennial, climbing, stem-succulent shrub, 1-2 m high. Branches 3-winged, ribs compressed, margins strongly undulate, becoming horny with age. Areoles up to 40 mm apart, with 1 central spine 2-4 mm long and 1 or 2 peripheral spines 2-4 mm long. Flowers solitary. Sepals lorate, greenish or yellowish, apex acuminate. Petals spathulate, green, apex acute. Stamens of mature flower roughly parallel to perianth. Style cream-coloured; stigma lobes ± 24. Fruit red (ripe), oblong, scaly. Seeds black.
Life form perennial
Growth form
Growth support climber
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 1.75 - 2.5
Mature height (meter) 2.5 - 4.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway cam

Environment

A tropical plant. It grows best in dry tropical and subtropical climates. It suits the lowlands. It needs good light. It suits areas where rainfall is 500-1250 mm per year. It is best in seasonally wet and dry climates. In wet tropical zones plants may grow well but have trouble setting fruit. It needs a temperature above 13°C to grow. It can tolerate temperatures to 40°C and light frosts. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Light 4-8
Soil humidity 1-6
Soil texture 1-6
Soil acidity 2-5
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-12

Usage

The fruit is eaten fresh. It is also used for drinks. A syrup of the fruit is used to colour pastries and candy. The unopened flower buds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used in soups. The young tender stems with leaves are plucked and eaten as a vegetable.
Uses drinks environmental use food gene source hedge medicinal ornamental
Edible flowers fruits seeds stems
Therapeutic use Parasiticide (unspecified), Caustic (unspecified), Vermifuge (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed or stem cuttings. The cuttings are usually dried out for a week or two. The plants are self sterile and have to be pollinated by bats and moths. Hand pollination is recommended for good fruit production.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) 18 - 28
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Selenicereus undatus unspecified picture

Distribution

Selenicereus undatus world distribution map, present in Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Cambodia, Mexico, Mozambique, Martinique, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Niue, Puerto Rico, Réunion, United States of America, and South Africa

Identifiers

LSID -
WFO ID wfo-0001434109
COL ID 4WDDR
BDTFX ID 166702
INPN ID 632344
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Cereus undatus Cereus tricostatus Hylocereus undatus Hylocereus tricostatus Selenicereus undatus Hylocereus undatus subsp. luteocarpus