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Hylocereus costaricensis

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Family
  
Cactaceae

Scientific name
  
Hylocereus costaricensis

Rank
  
Species

Order
  
Caryophyllales

Genus
  
Hylocereus

Higher classification
  
Hylocereus

Hylocereus costaricensis Dragon Fruit Plant Guide Lifestyle HOME

Similar
  
Hylocereus, Hylocereus megalanthus, Hylocereus undatus, Cactus, Moonlight cactus

Hylocereus costaricensis, the Costa Rican pitahaya or Costa Rica nightblooming cactus, is a cactus species native to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The species is grown commercially for its pitahaya fruit, but is also an impressive ornamental vine with huge flowers. Most plants grown under the name Hylocereus polyrhizus refer to this species. The latter name is ambiguous and not used.

Contents

Hylocereus costaricensis Hylocereus costaricensis Dragon Fruit Pitaya Costa Rican Night

Etymology

Named after Costa Rica where it was first discovered.

Origin and habitat

Hylocereus costaricensis httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The species is native to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, although its natural range is hard to determine because it has been cultivated so widely. It occurs in dry or deciduous coastal forests, at elevations of 0–1,400 m (0–4,593 ft) above sea level.

Systematics

Hylocereus costaricensis is closely related to Hylocereus ocamponis, but lacks the horny stems margins of the latter species.

Description

Hylocereus costaricensis Amazoncom Hylocereus Costaricensis Red Dragon fruitSweet Pitaya

  • Stem scandent, 1-3 (-10) cm wide, usually very thick; ribs 3 (-4), margins straight to shallowly scallop-lobed; internodes 2-3.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm; often folded, areoles on prominences, bearing dense, short wool and (1-) 3-6 (-9) short, dark spines 2–4 mm, hairs 2, often bristle-like, soon dropping; epidermis grayish green, +- glaucous in fresh material.
  • Flowers funnel-shaped, 22–30 cm long, strongly perfumed, young buds globular; cylindric-ovoid, ca 4 cm long, bracteoles narrow, foliaceous, numerous, imbricate, 1–2 cm long; receptacle stout, 10–15 cm, throat obconic, 6 cm in wide at the orifice, bracteoles foliaceous, persistent, particularly imbricating towards the base, green with purple margins; tepals 11–15 cm, the outer greenish yellow, the inner white; stigma lobes ca. 12, not forked; ovary covered with large, broadly to narrowly triangular, overlapping bracteoles, 0.5–3 cm.
  • Fruit broadly ovate to globose, bright magenta, pupla purple; seeds pear-shaped, black, ca 10mm.

    • Cultivation

    Hylocereus costaricensis Introducing Hylocereus costaricensis The Texas Triffid Ranch

    An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte or xerophyte. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. It should not be kept under 10 °C (50 °F) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers in summer or autumn.

    Nutrition

    This fruit is one of the few to have indicaxanthin, a betalain, a type of plant pigment antioxidant.

    Hylocereus costaricensis Hylocereus costaricensis buy seeds at rarepalmseedscom

    Hylocereus costaricensis Rica Nightblooming Cactus Hylocereus costaricensis

    References

    Hylocereus costaricensis Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA