Characteristics
A cactus. It is shrubby or treelike. It branches near the base. It grows 2-4 m high. It has a short trunk. The stems are dark bluish-green. They are 7-10 cm wide. There are 8-12 ribs and they are rounded and lumpy. They are 2 cm high. There are usually 3 central spines with one pointing down and 2 pointing up. They are 2-6 cm long. There are 7-9 spines around these. They are short and grey with dark tips. The flowers open at night. They are at the ends of the branches. They are a narrow bell shape. They are pale red and 4.5-6 cm long.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
2.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It grows in arid places.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The fruit are eaten fresh or dried. They are used for jam. It is also served hot with local goat cheese. The juice of the fruit is used to prepare an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The seeds, stems and flower are occasionally eaten. The flower buds are parboiled then fried with egg or prepared with onions and vinegar.
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings. It can be cultivated as a hedge.
| 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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