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Useful Tropical Plants

Harrisia adscendens

(Gürke) Britton & Rose

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cereus adscendens Gürke

Cereus platygonus Salm-Dyck

Eriocereus adscendens (Gürke) A.Berger

Eriocereus platygonus (Salm-Dyck) Riccob.

Harrisia platygona (Salm-Dyck) Britton & Rose

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Harrisia adscendens is a spiny, evergreen, much branched, shrubby cactus. The stems can be 5 - 8 metres long and 2 - 5cm in diameter, usually with distinct trunks; they are erect at first, later arching and clambering through other plants[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Harrisia adscendens has a wide range and is frequently abundant, it is tolerant to disturbance and occurs within protected areas. The subpopulations in the wild might have decreased over the last years, however the species is tolerant and can establish in areas converted for cattle ranching, road sides and farm fences. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..

Range

S. America - northeast Brazil

Habitat

Found along road sides, often in farm hedges, amongst semi-open vegetation or scrambling over rocks (inselberg) in caatinga agreste, especially on soils containing clay; at elevations from 50 - 700 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height6.00 m
PollinatorsMoths, Bats
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

The genus Harrisia is found in semi-arid tropical to subtropical regions of the Americas, growing in both the northern and southern hemispheres. There is usually a dry season at the cooler part of the year that can last up to 6 months. Annual precipitation is generally around 500 - 1,200mm. In the northernmost part of its range, in Florida, and in its southwestern range in Argentina and Bolivia, it experiences occasional freezing temperatures, and in cultivation light frosts (1-2 per year) experienced by species in Florida, seemed well-tolerated and not detrimental[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
].

The flowers open of a night time and are sweetly scented to attract bats and moths[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The red, globose fruits are free of spines and around 5 - 6cm in diameter[
1987
Title
The Cactus Family
Publication
 
Author
Anderson E.F.
Publisher
Timber Press; Portland, Oregon
Year
2001
ISBN
0-88192-498-9
Description
An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation..
]. Harrisia fruits generally contain a sweet, edible, white pulp with hundreds to thousands of tiny seeds embedded in the pulp[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
]. The fruit usually tears open at the sides as it ripens to expose the inner pulp and seed[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
].

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is used medicinally[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
]. No more information

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - usually germinates quickly and well without pre-treatment, though fresh seed may have a short dormancy of up to 8 weeks, Washing the seed in water prior to sowing can shorten germination time[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
].
Cuttings. Vegetative reproduction is frequent in nature when stems break and detach from the parent plant. The stems can proceed to produce roots along tissue nearest to the ground and produce a new plant[
1995
Title
Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159
Author
Franck A.R.
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
2153 733X
Description
A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Harrisia+adscendens>

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