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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Acanthocereus tetragonus is an evergreen Tree growing to 5 m (16ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Acanthocereus acutangulus (hort ex Pfeiffer) A. Berg.;
Acanthocereus floridanus Small ex Br. & Rose;
Acanthocereus pentagonus (L.)Br. & Rose;
Acanthocereus pitajaya (DC.) Dugand ex Crozat;
Acanthocereus princeps (Pfeiffer) Backenberg;
Cactus pentagonus L;
Cactus prismaticus Willd.;
Cactus tetragonus L.;
Cereus pentagonus (L.) Haw.;
Cereus princeps Pfeiffer;
Cereus tetragonus L.(Mill.);
Cereus acutangulus hort. ex. Pfeiffer; [1b]
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Stem
Edible Uses:
Edible Portion: Fruit, Stems. Fruit - raw. The bright red fruits are juicy, sweet and edible[46, 200, 270, 301]. The ovoid to oblong fruits are 30 - 80mm long[200, 270]. Young tender stems - cooked[301].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
This cactus often forms thickets in coastal hammocks which can be impenetrable and spiny. Cultivated as an ornamental. The Fairy Castle Cactus, a miniature cultivar of this species, has many curved branches that resemble the turrets of a castle. Carbon Farming - Agroforestry Services: living fence.
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Agroforestry Services: Living fence Management: Standard Regional Crop
Columnar, branching, slow growing cactus with spiny, five-sided, mid-green stems producing numerous smaller offsets.Climate: subtropical to tropical. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. A plant of the arid tropics and subtropics. Grows in humus-poor, sandy, well drained soils in a sunny position. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5[200].
The flowers open overnight. Flowers are open from midnight until dawn, attracting hummingbird moths (Hemaris spp.). Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard.
Carbon Farming
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Agroforestry Services: Living fence
Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
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Propagation
Seed
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Barbwire acanthocereus, Kaktus segitiga, Pitaya, Chaco, Nun-tsutsuy, Organo, Pitahaya, Pitahaya morada, night-blooming cereus, barbed-wire cactus, sword-pear, dildo cactus, triangle cactus, and Órgano-alado de pitaya (Spanish).
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Antilles, Asia, Belize, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Martinique, Mexico*, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, Trinidad, USA*, Venezuela, West Indies.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Yes
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.) Hummelinck.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
Readers comment
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Subject : Acanthocereus tetragonus
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