e-Key v3 - *Hylocereus
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Cactaceae - *Hylocereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose

Description :

  • Climbing stem-succulent shrubs
  • Branches 3-winged, ribs compressed, margin strongly undulate, becoming horny with age
  • Areoles up to 40 mm apart, with 1 central spine 2-4 mm long and up to 2 peripheral spines 2-4 mm long
  • Flowers solitary
  • Sepals lorate, greenish or yellowish, apices acuminate
  • Petals spathulate, green, apices acute
  • Stamens of mature flower roughly parallel to perianth
  • Style cream; stigma lobes ± 24
  • Fruit (ripe) red, oblong, scaly
  • Seeds black
  • x = 11

Nomenclature:

  • *Hylocereus (A.Berger) Britton & Rose
    • Britton & Rose: 428 (1909)
    • Backeberg 2: 803 (1959)
    • IOS Working Party: 69 (1986)
    • IOS Working Party: 89 (1990)
    • Barthlott & Hunt: 179 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 18, tropical America
  • Southern Africa : * Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose, is recorded as invasive in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

References:

  • BACKEBERG, C. 1958-1962. Die Cactaceae . Gustav Fischer, Jena
  • BARTHLOTT, W. & HUNT, D.R. 1993. Cactaceae . In K. Kubitzki, J.G. Rohwer & V. Bittrich, The families and genera of flowering plants 2. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
  • BRITTON, N.L. & ROSE, J.N. 1909. The genus Cereus and its allies in North America. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 12
  • IOS WORKING PARTY 1986. The genera of the Cactaceae : towards a new consensus. Bradleya 4
  • IOS WORKING PARTY 1990. The genera of Cactaceae : progress towards consensus. Bradleya 8