Common Name:

General Information

Selenicereus escuintlensis is a spiny, evergreen, climbing or sprawling, intricately branched cactus with stems up to 5 metres or more long. The stems are segmented, with individual segments around 10 - 30cm or more long and 3 - 4cm
wide[, ].
The plant is no longer known in the wild but is grown inliving fences and is harvested for its edible fruit[]. The fruits are much appreciated locally and are sold in local markets[]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental[].
The habitat where Selenicereus escuintlensis is found (tropical lowland forest), has almost completely disappeared through conversion to agricultural land, resulting in an estimated 80% reduction of the population size. The species can now only be found as a cultivated living fence in the area where it used to occur naturally. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Nicaragua, Guatemala, north to southern Mexico (Chiapas)

Habitat

Tropical lowland forest; at elevations up to 800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

The fragrant flowers open during the night[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A white pulp containing numerous small seeds[]. The fruit is not fragrant and has little flavour[]. The oblong, purplish red fruit is around 9cm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes grown as a living fence[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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