Rhodocactus nemorosus
(Rojas Acosta) I.Asai & K.Miyata
Cactaceae
Pereskia amapola F.A.C.Weber
Pereskia argentina F.A.C.Weber
Pereskia nemorosa Rojas Acosta
Common Name:
General Information
Rhodocactus nemorosus is a spiny, semi-deciduous shrubby or small tree-like plant that usually grows around 3 - 5 metres tall, exceptionally reaching 8 metres, The trunk is around 10cm 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 plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental and is also grown as an impenetrable hedge. There is a report that the leaves are sold in local markets for medicinal purposes[
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.
].
Rhodocactus nemorosus is common and there are no major threats affecting it. It is also present in several 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..
,
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 - northeast Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil
Habitat
In the drier parts of the forest and shrubland, in 'high woodland' (humid semideciduous forest), in secondary vegetation and also cultivated in hedges; 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.
,
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.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Semi-deciduous Tree |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Most Rhodocactus species occur in dry forests and thorn-scrub habitats in a tropical climate with a more or less pronounced dry season of about two to five months[
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.
].
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.
].
The fruit can be solitary or produced in clusters[
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.
].
Edible Uses
The green to yellowish-green somewhat pear-shaped fruit is 30 - 60mm long and 25 - 55mm wide with a wall around 10mm 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
The leaves are used medicinally[
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.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Locally cultivated as a hedge and reported to form impenetrable stands due to the prohibitive armament of the trunk and branches. Several collectors note that the species is grown as an ornamental, apparently within its natural range of distribution[
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 -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
