Selenicereus megalanthus

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Yellow pitahaya
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Selenicereus
Species:	S. megalanthus
Binomial name
Selenicereus megalanthus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Moran
Synonyms[1]
Cereus megalanthus K.Schum. ex Vaupel Hylocereus megalanthus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Ralf Bauer Mediocactus megalanthus (K.Schum. ex Vaupel) Britton & Rose

Selenicereus megalanthus, synonym Hylocereus megalanthus,^[1] is a cactus species in the genus Selenicereus that is native to northern South America, where it is known, along with its fruit, by the name of pitahaya. The species is grown commercially for its yellow fruit, but is also an impressive ornamental climbing vine with perhaps the largest flowers of all cacti.

The yellow fruit has thorns, unlike the red dragon fruits (e.g. S. undatus and S. monacanthus), and is commonly known as "yellow dragon fruit", "yellow pitahaya" or "yellow pitaya".

Etymology[]

Megalanthus (Greek) – large flowered. This species produces among of the largest flowers within the cactus family.

Origin and habitat[]

The species is native to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.^[1] It is found in tropical riparian forests and is epiphytic or xerophytic.

Description[]

• Stems may lie along the ground (procumbent), climb (scandent), or hang (pendent). Stems are often only 1.5 cm thick, producing aerial roots; 3 ribs; margins slightly undulating; white areoles; 1-3 spines 2–3 mm long, yellowish; several hairs on young growth, brittle-like; green epidermis.
• Flowers are nocturnal and funnel-shaped, 32–38 cm long; pericarpel is ovoid or slightly globose, tubercles are large and flattened, with felt-like and spiny areoles subtended by small bracteoles; receptacle elongate; outer tepals long, green, triangular-acute; inner tepals 10 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, white, broader; stamens numerous inserted in two zones, yellow; style yellow, stigma lobes numerous, green.
• Fruit: ovoid, tuberculate, spiny, skin yellow (sometimes red/orange, when hybridized), seeds black; interior white (sometimes pink, when hybridized), edible, having a pleasant, mildly sweet flavor.
• Pollination: Yellow pitayas are self-fertile (meaning no cross-pollination is required)^[2][3]

Cultivation[]

This is an easily cultivated, fast-growing plant. It needs a compost containing plenty of humus, and sufficient moisture in summer. It should not be kept in temperatures under 8 °C (46.5 °F) in winter. It can be grown in semi-shade, but it does best in full sunlight. Extra light in the early spring stimulates budding. The plant flowers in June to October. The plant can grow to a very large size.

The variety 'Australian Gold' produces the largest yellow thornless dragonfruit in the world. The fruits are white-fleshed and sweet like a kiwi fruit. The branches are thick, dark green and quite tolerant of seasonal extremes. 'Australian Gold' is self-sterile, with fruits weighing 0.75–1.5 lb (340–680 g).

See also[]

• Pitaya
• List of culinary fruits

References[]

• Anderson, E. F. (2001). The Cactus Family. Timber Press ISBN 0-88192-498-9
• Bauer, R. (2003) "A synopsis of the tribe Hylocereeae F. Buxb". Cactaceae Syst. Init. 17: 3–63.
• Tel-Zur N, Abbo S, Bar-Zvi D, Mizrahi Y. (2004 ) "Genetic relationships among Hylocereus and Selenicereus vine cacti (Cactaceae): evidence from hybridization and cytological studies". Ann Bot (Lond) 94(4):527–34.

External links[]

• Media related to Selenicereus megalanthus at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Selenicereus megalanthus at Wikispecies