Rhodocactus bahiensis
(Gürke) I.Asai & K.Miyata
Cactaceae
Common Name: Espinha de Santo Antonio
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 Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, 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.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
