Hylocereus costaricensis
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| Purple Pitaya | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Photo: Edward
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| Hylocereus costaricensis (F. A. C. Weber) Britton & Rose, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 428. 1909 |
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Hylocereus costaricensis is a cactus species native to Central 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 ambiguous and should not be used.
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[edit] Common names
Swedish: Costa Rica Pitahaya
[edit] Etymology
Named after Costa Rica where it was first discovered.
[edit] Origin and habitat
Nicaragua to northeast Peru. Dry forest and coastal areas, 0-1400 m altitude.
[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.
[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 orifice, 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.
