Harrisia balansae
(K. Schumann) N.P. Taylor & Zappi
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Emily Hjalmarson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Emily Hjalmarson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) andrea_janin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A cactus. The plants can clamber and climb. They are often branched and can be 25 m long. The stems are 5 cm across. They are 3-4 angled with flat sides and acute angles and wavy. There is one central spine which is stout and 25 mm long. Around it there are 4-5 spines that are 4-5 mm long. The flowers are 20-25 cm long. The fruit are rounded and red. They are lumpy and without spines. They are 4-4.5 cm across. They are edible.
Edible Uses
The rounded red fruit are edible and can be eaten fresh.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America,
Synonyms
References (3)
- Anderson, E.F., 2001, The Cactus Family, Timber Press. p 371
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 405
- www.desert-tropicals.com
