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Useful Tropical Plants

Harrisia tortuosa

(J.Forbes) Britton & Rose

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Cereus arendtii Hildm. & Mathes.

Cereus atropurpureus Hocay.

Cereus tortuosus J.Forbes

Eriocereus arendtii (Hildm. & Mathsson) F.Ritter

Eriocereus tortuosus (J.Forbes) Riccob.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Harrisia tortuosa is a spiny, evergreen shrubby cactus with erect stems that become arching or even prostrate with age. The plant grows around 1 metre long with stems 2 - 4cm 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 tortuosa s widely distributed, is abundant throughout its range, and there are no major threats affecting it. 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, Uruguay, western Brazil

Habitat

Hilly areas among shrubs and in forests and forest clearings. It is favoured by anthropogenic activities; at elevations up to 500 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
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
].

This species has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in Queensland, Australia[
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 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
]. The red, globose fruit is around 3 - 4cm in diameter and has a few 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..
].

The boiled or roasted roots are sometimes eaten[
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

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+tortuosa>

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