Hylocereus costaricensis

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iPurple Pitaya

Photo: Edward

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Hylocereeae
Genus:	Hylocereus
Species:	H. costaricensis

Binomial name

Hylocereus costaricensis
(F. A. C. Weber) Britton & Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 428. 1909

Synonyms

Cereus trigonus var. costaricensis F.A.C. Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 8: 457. 1902.

Hylocereus microcladus Backeberg (1942) Fedde Rep. LI:61

Hylocereus peruvianus Backeberg (1942) Fedde Rep. LI:61-62

Hylocereus costaricensis is a cactus species native to Cental America and northwestern South America. The species is grown commercially for its fruit, but is also an impressive ornamental vine with huge flowers. Most plants grown under the name Hylocereus polyrhizus refer to this species. The latter name is ambigous and should not be used.

1 Common Names
2 Etymology
3 Origin and habitat
4 Systematics
5 Cultivation
6 Description

[edit] Common Names

Swedish: Costa Rica Pitahaya

[edit] Etymology

Named after Costa Rica where it was first discovered.

[edit] Origin and habitat

Nicaragua to NE Peru. Dry forest and coastal areas, 0-1400 m alt.

[edit] Systematics

Hylocereus costaricensis is closely related to Hylocereus ocamponis, but lack the horny stems margins of that species.

[edit] Cultivation

An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte or xerophyte. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 10ºC (50ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers in summer or autumn.

Fruit

[edit] Description

Stem scandent, 1-3 (-10) cm wide, usually very thick; ribs 3 (-4), margins staight to shallowly scallop-lobed; internodes 2-3.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm; often folded, areoles on prominences, bearing dense, short wool and (1-) 3-6 (-9) short, dark spines 2-4 mm, hairs 2, often bristle-like, soon dropping; epidermis grayish green, +- glaucous in fresh material. Flowers funnel-shaped, 22-30 cm long, strongly perfumed, young buds globular; cylindric-ovoid, ca 4 cm long, bracteoles narrow, foliaceous, numerous, imbricate, 1-2 cm long; receptacle stout, 10-15 cm, throat obconic, 6 cm in wide at the orfice, bracteoles foliaceous, persistent, particularly imbricating towards the base, green with purple margins; tepals 11-15 cm, the outer greenish yellow, the inner white; stigma lobes ca. 12, not forked; ovary covered with large, broadly to narrowly triangular, overlapping bracteoles, 0.5-3 cm. Fruit broadly ovate to globose, bright magenta, pupla purple; seeds pear-shaped, black, ca 10mm.