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Useful Tropical Plants

Harrisia pomanensis

(F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Britton & Rose

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cereus pomanensis F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.

Echinopsis pomanensis (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Anceschi & Magli

Eriocereus polyacanthus F.Ritter

Eriocereus pomanensis (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) A.Berger

Eriocereus tarijensis F.Ritter

Harrisia tortuosa uruguayensis Osten

Common Name: Midnight Lady

No Image.

General Information

Harrisia pomanensis is a spiny, evergreen, somewhat shrubby cactus with stems around 20 - 40mm in diameter that are more or less erect though sometimes arched and even prostrate[
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 fom the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
Harrisia pomanensis is widely distributed, is abundant throughout its range, and there are no major threats affecting it. It also occurs in many protected areas. 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..
,
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

S. America - northern Argentina, Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia

Habitat

Understorey and edges of dry forests; at elevations up to 1,000 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 *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.00 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 white pulp is edible[
1438
Title
Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
Publication
 
Author
Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
].The globose fruits are slightly tuberculate, spineless, with a few scales[
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
].

Flowers - boiled[
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.
].

Roots - cooked[
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.
]. Boiled or roasted[
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.
,
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 spines are used as pins to insert dye when tatooing the skin[
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.
].

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+pomanensis>

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