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Useful Tropical Plants

Harrisia gracilis

(Mill.) Britton

Cactaceae


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

+ Synonyms

Cactus subrepandus (Haw.) Spreng.

Cereus gracilis Mill.

Cereus imbricatus Pfeiff.

Cereus subrepandus Haw.

Echinopsis gracilis (Mill.) Molinari & Mayta

Harrisia donae-antoniae Hooten

Common Name:

No Image.

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[
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 stems are green, cylindrical, very elongated, 3 - 7 metres long, 25 - 40mm 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..
].
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)[
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.
]. 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

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..
,
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 - southern Jamaica

Habitat

Thickets, mainly in arid areas near the south coast[
426
Title
Flowering Plants of Jamaica
Publication
 
Author
Adams. C.D.
Publisher
University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
Year
1972
ISBN
 
Description
A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height5.00 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 smooth, yellow fruits are 3 - 4cm long, 3 - 6cm in diameter, with some hairlike spines[
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
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The dried, woody core of the stems burns well and has been used as a torch[
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+gracilis>

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