Pereskia aculeata
Pereskia aculeata
Pereskia aculeata is a species in the genus Pereskia from the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet aculeata comes from the Latin, means prickly ' and refers to the spiny shoots. Trivial names are " Barbados Gooseberry ", " Bugambilia Blanca ", " Camelia Blanca ", " Grosellero ", "Jasmin de Uvas ", " Leafy Cactus", "Lemon Vine ", " Ramo de Novia ", " Rose Cactus ", " Suriname Gooseberry "and" Tsumya ".
Description
Pereskia aculeata is spreizklimmende shrubs to woody, climbing vines 3-10 meters in length. The grayish brown, slightly cracked along main shoots have diameters of 2-3 centimeters. The different sized and shaped leaves are lanceolate to oblong or ovate and short-stalked. The leaf blade is 4.5 to 11 inches long and 1.5 to 5 centimeters wide. The spring-like veins indicate 4-7 side branches. On the underside of the midrib protrudes. The thorns are dimorphic (two polymorphic ). The primary 1 to 3 spines are always bent back and claw-like. They usually occur in pairs, are somewhat flattened and 4-8 millimeters long. Up to 25 secondary spines appear from older areoles. These are just spread out and 1 to 3.5 inches long.
The whitish to pale pink, fragrant flowers are borne in terminal or lateral inflorescences from 70 (or more) individual flowers. They reach a diameter of 2.5 to 5 centimeters. The edible, spherical, fleshy fruits spiny initially have diameters of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters. At maturity they are yellow to orange.
Systematics, distribution and hazard
The distribution area of Pereskia aculeata extends through the Caribbean and ranges in South America to north- eastern Argentina. The first description was in 1768 by Philip Miller. A synonym is cactus Pereskia L.
Pereskia aculeata is on the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN as "Least Concern ( LC) ," ie, not compromised classified.