Harrisia gracilis is treated here as a species restricted to southern Jamaica (see Franck, A.R. (2012). Synopsis of Harrisia including a newly described species, several typifications, new synonyms, and a key to species Haseltonia 18: 95-104.)
However, in the treatment by the IUCN (see Bradley, K.A. 2020. Harrisia gracilis (amended version of 2017 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T152256A183111762. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T152256A183111762.en) Harrisia gracilis is seen as a composite species that ranges from southeastern USA (Florida) to Puerto Rico. The other species included by the IUCN in the aggregate species Harrissia gracilis are;- Harrisia aboriginum Small ex Britton & Rose (western central Florida); Harrisia fragrans Small ex Britton & Rose (eastern and southern Florida); Harrisia divaricata (Lam.) Backeb. (Hispaniola); Harrisia portoricensis Britton (Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico); Harrisia taylorii Britton, which is here treated as a synonym of Harrisia fernowii Britton (eastern Cuba); and Harrisia simpsonii Small ex Britton & Rose, which is treated here as a synonym of Harrisia fragrans

Common Name:

General Information

Harrisia gracilis is a spiny, evergreen, much branched, shrubby or tree-like cactus, usually with a well-developed trunk up to 1 metre tall[]. The stems are green, cylindrical, very elongated, 3 - 7 metres long, 25 - 40mm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Harrisia gracilis is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[]. However, it is treated there as an aggregate species ranging from Florida to the Caribbean (see notes above on taxonomy). When treated as being restricted to Jamaica, the status is likely to be different.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Caribbean - southern Jamaica

Habitat

Thickets, mainly in arid areas near the south coast[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Moths, Bats
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

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[].

The flowers open of a night time and are sweetly scented to attract bats and moths[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The smooth, yellow fruits are 3 - 4cm long, 3 - 6cm in diameter, with some hairlike spines[]. Harrisia fruits generally contain a sweet, edible, white pulp with hundreds to thousands of tiny seeds embedded in the pulp[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The dried, woody core of the stems burns well and has been used as a torch[].

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[].
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[].

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