Characteristics
A cactus. It is a large plant like a tree. It grows 5-8 m tall. It has thick trunks with many erect or arching branches. The stems are blue-green and ribbed. They are 9-10 cm across. There are 8-9 ribs. The spines are yellow and turn black. They are stiff, and straight. There is one central spine 5 cm long. There are 7-9 spines around it that are 3 cm long. The flowers open at night. They are funnel shaped and white. They are 15 cm long. The fruit are oval and green to red. They are covered with scales.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
deciduous
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
1.0
|
| Mature height (meter) |
3.25 - 4.75
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
cam
|
Environment
A subtropical plant. It grows in high arid regions in Argentina. In Argentina it grows between 200-1,000 m above sea level.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The rind has a tangy lemon flavour and is edible. The fruit can be eaten cooked. They are eaten as a vegetable or as a seasoning for fish. The ripe fruit are eaten raw.
Cultivation
| Mode |
-
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
Home