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Useful Tropical Plants

Harrisia divaricata

(Lam.) Backeb.

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cactus divaricatus Lam.

Cephalocereus hermentianus (Monv. ex Lem.) Britton & Rose

Cereus divaricatus (Lam.) DC.

Cereus divergens Pfeiff.

Cereus fimbriatus Pfeiff.

Cereus hermentianus Monv. ex Lem.

Cereus nashii (Britton) Vaupel

Cereus serruliflorus Haw.

Harrisia nashii Britton

Harrisia serruliflora (Haw.) Lourteig

Pilocereus albispinus Salm-Dyck ex C.F.Först. & Rümpler

Pilocereus divaricatus (Lam.) Lem.

Pilocereus hermentianus (Monv. ex Lem.) Lem.

Pilosocereus hermentianus (Monv. ex Lem.) Byles & G.D.Rowley

Serrulatocereus serruliflorus (Haw.) Guiggi

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Harrisia divaricata is a spiny, evergreen, shrubby or tree-like cactus with a well-developed erect trunk up to 1 metre tall and spreading branches[
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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Harrisia divaricata

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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

Range

Caribbean - Dominican Republic, Haiti

Habitat

Scrub forest and scrubland in lowland and coastal areas; at elevations up to 400 metres[
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
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height1.00 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

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 yellow, globose fruit is free of spines[
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

The juice of the stem, mixed in vinegar or castor oil, has been used topically as a depilatory agent and also to treat toothache, warts, and ringworm fungi[
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
].

Other Uses

The wood from the stem has been used to make crates[
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
].

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+divaricata>

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