Selenicereus costaricensis
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Red-fleshed pitahaya
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = {{cite journal | author = Hammel, B. | title = Hylocereus costaricensis | journal = IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume= 2013 | page = e.T151841A567360 | year = 2013 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T151841A567360.en | doi-access = free }}
| image = Hylocereus costaricensis7EDWARD.jpg
| genus = Selenicereus
| species = costaricensis
| authority = (F.A.C.Weber) S.Arias & N.Korotkova
| synonyms =
For the issues with the validity of these names, see § Taxonomy.
{{Species list
|Cereus trigonus var. costaricensis|F.A.C.Weber
|Cereus costaricensis|A.Berger
|Hylocereus costaricensis|(F.A.C.Weber) Britton & Rose
}}
| synonyms_ref =
}}
Selenicereus costaricensis, synonym Hylocereus costaricensis, known as the Costa Rican pitahaya or Costa Rica nightblooming cactus, is a cactus species native to Central America and north-eastern South America. The species is grown commercially for its fruit, called pitaya or pitahaya, but is also an impressive ornamental vine with huge flowers. The species may not be distinct from Selenicereus monacanthus.
Description
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
- Stem scandent, 1-3 (-10) cm wide, usually very thick; ribs 3 (-4), margins straight to shallowly scallop-lobed; internodes 2-3.5 x 0.1-0.2cm; often folded, areoles on prominences, bearing dense, short wool and (1-) 3-6 (-9) short, dark spines 2–4mm, hairs 2, often bristle-like, soon dropping; epidermis grayish green, +- glaucous in fresh material.
- Flowers funnel-shaped, 22–30cm long, strongly perfumed, young buds globular; cylindric-ovoid, ca 4cm long, bracteoles narrow, foliaceous, numerous, imbricate, 1–2cm long; receptacle stout, 10–15cm, throat obconic, 6cm in wide at the orifice, bracteoles foliaceous, persistent, particularly imbricating towards the base, green with purple margins; tepals 11–15cm, the outer greenish yellow, the inner white; stigma lobes ca. 12, not forked; ovary covered with large, broadly to narrowly triangular, overlapping bracteoles, 0.5–3cm.
- Fruit broadly ovate to globose, bright magenta, pupla purple; seeds pear-shaped, black, ca 1mm.
Taxonomy
Both the identity and the nomenclature of the species have been problematic. The name Cereus trigonus var. costaricensis was first published by Frédéric Weber in 1902. The epithet costaricensis refers to Costa Rica, where it is native. The plant Weber described had a triangular stem-like Cereus trigonus, but was "distinguished by its more glaucous stem and especially by its fruit, just as big but more spherical, less scaly, and filled with a crimson pulp of a very delicate taste."{{sfnp|Weber|1902|p=[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34178723 457]|ps=. "{{lang|fr|s'en distingue par sa tige plus glauque et surtout par son fruit, tout aussi grand mais plus spérique, moins squameux, et rempli d'une pulpe cramoisie d'un goût très délicat}}".}} It was said to be highly sought after in Costa Rica for its fruit, known as pitahaya. Weber mentioned a photograph of the plant, but as of 2017 this had not been located, so the name lacked a type.{{sfnp|Korotkova|Borsch|Arias|2017|p=25}} In 1909, Britton and Rose transferred the plant to the genus Hylocereus and raised it to a full species as Hylocereus costaricensis.
A molecular phylogenetic study in 2017 confirmed earlier research showing that the genus Hylocereus was nested within Selenicereus, so all the species of Hylocereus were transferred to Selenicereus, with this species becoming Selenicereus costaricensis. However, in the absence of a type, the names remained problematic. In 2021, a lectotype was designated, and the name was accepted by the International Plant Names Index and Plants of the World Online.
The species has been described as "poorly understood". The name Hylocereus costaricensis has been treated as synonymous with Hylocereus polyrhizus; however, H. polyrhizus is regarded by other sources as a synonym of Selenicereus monacanthus. The relationship between S. costaricensis and S. monacanthus, and in particular whether they are separate species, requires further study.
Distribution and habitat
Cultivation
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
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.{{Cite journal |last=Hossain |first=Farid Md |last2=Numan |first2=Sharker Md Numan |last3=Akhtar |first3=Shaheen |date=2021-09-01 |title=Cultivation, Nutritional Value, and Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus spp.): a Review |url=https://ijhst.ut.ac.ir/article_80693.html |journal=International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=259–269 |doi=10.22059/ijhst.2021.311550.400 |issn=2322-1461}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|refs=
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External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Selenicereus costaricensis|Selenicereus costaricensis}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Selenicereus costaricensis|Selenicereus costaricensis}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q109581259|from2=Q139828}}
Category:Cacti of North America
Category:Cacti of South America
Category:Flora of Central America
Category:Flora of western South America
Category:Flora of the Neotropical realm
Category:Crops originating from the Americas
Category:Garden plants of Central America
Category:Garden plants of South America
Category:Drought-tolerant plants