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Useful Tropical Plants

Rhodocactus bahiensis

(Gürke) I.Asai & K.Miyata

Cactaceae

+ Synonyms

Pereskia bahiensis Gürke

Common Name: Espinha de Santo Antonio

No Image.

General Information

Rhodocactus bahiensis is a spiny, deciduous shrub or a small tree-like growing 1 - 6 metres tall with erect to archng main shoots. The trunk can be up to 30cm 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..
,
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
].
The plamt is possibly harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often cultivated for use as a hedge in northeastern Brazil.
Rhodocactus bahiensis is fairly widespread and common. It has been taken into cultivation as a hedge plant in the region where it is native. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
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..
,
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.

Range

S. America - eastern Brazl (Bahia)

Habitat

Dry forest; at elevations from 300 - 900 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 *  *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height3.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rhodocactus bahiensis is a plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Species in this genus generally prefes a well-drained, circum-neutral soil in a sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit[
335
Title
Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
Publication
 
Author
Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
Publisher
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Year
1987
ISBN
 
Description
A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The pulp is eaten[
335
Title
Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
Publication
 
Author
Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
Publisher
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Year
1987
ISBN
 
Description
A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The pear-shaped fruits are around 30 - 60mm long and 30 - 50mm in diameter with a fruit wall around 10 - 15mm thick[
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
]..

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is often grown as a hedge plant in its native range[
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
]. Cuttings around 100cm long are taken during the dry season and placed fairly close to each other to form a living fence of spiny canes. This soon develops into an impenetrable, stock-proof hedge[
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - fresh seed can be slow to germinate, it is best to sow seed that is between several months to 2 years old and this should germinate after a few days. Even when five years old, seed can have a 50% germination rate[
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
].
Easily grown from cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken during the dry season[
336
Title
Fruits of Warm Climates
Publication
 
Author
Morton. J.
Publisher
Florida Flair books, Florida.
Year
1987
ISBN
0961018410
Description
A very well written guide to about 125 species.
,
1988
Title
Pereskia (Cactaceae)
Publication
Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden Volume 41
Author
Leuenberger B.E.
Publisher
The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York
Year
1986
ISBN
0-89327-307-4
Description
The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Rhodocactus+bahiensis>

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