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Pereskia aculeata Mill.
| Family Name: | Cactaceae |
| Synonyms: | Cactus pereskia |
| Common Name: | Barbados Gooseberry, Leaf Cactus, Lemon Vine, 木麒麟 |
Barbados Gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata) has showy white, cream to yellow flowers of lemony scent. Unlike most of its cactus siblings that have leaves modified into spines, this ornamental native of tropical South America has large fleshy green leaves. It grows well and flowers best under full sun, and climbs over trellises and pergolas.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 3 m to 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Panama to Southern Tropical America. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A cactus species that first grow upright, and as it grows longer, it changes into a climbing growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The spines are 1-3 per areole, about 1-4 cm occuring on the main branches. The petiole is 3-7mm. Leaf blades green or purplish on the lower surface of the leaf, ovate to obovate to elliptic, measuring 4.5 to 7 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide. The leaf blade has smooth surface, base cuneate to rounded, apex acute to acuminate, entire margin and 4-7 lateral veins. |
| Stems | The areoles (the bumps which spines grow from) are cushion-like on the trunk. |
| Flowers | Flowers are 3-4 cm in diameter and fragrant. The petals are white to pale yellow. |
| Fruit | Fruits are light yellow, berry-like, globose to obovoide, measuring 1-2cm in diameter, containing 2-5 seeds. |
| Habitat | It is found growing in thickets beside railways, and near sea level. |
| Associated Fauna | The flowers are visited by bees and carpenter bees <2>. |
| Cultivation | Plant is tolerant to arid conditions, does not require high soil fertility and is adapted to diverse soil types. It can be propagated via stem cuttings or seeds. |
| Etymology | The genus Pereskia is named after Nicolas Claude Fabry de Pieresc, a French botanist. The species epithet aculeata means having prickles, prickly, or thorny, with reference to the spines along the stem. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Plant is used as food in Brazilian rural communities for its high nutritional content of leaves <2>. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Plant has ornamental flowers, and suitable for growing on trellies and pergolas. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | Trellis / Arbour / Pergola |
| Thematic Landscaping | Bird & Wildlife Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow, Well-Drained Soils |
| Potential Problems | It can be invasive since it can form dense thorny thickets where it overgrows and replaces other plants. |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting, Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (axillary) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical, Obovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Seed Description | Black seeds |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | <1> Da Silva Porto, F.G., Campos, Â.D., Carreño, N.L.V., Garcia, I.T.S. (2021). Pereskia aculeata leaves: properties and potentialities for the development of new products. Natur. Prod. Res. 36: 4821–4832. <2> Nogueira Silva, N.F., Silva, S.H., Baron, D., Oliveira Neves, I.C., Casanova, F. (2023). Pereskia aculeata Miller as a novel food source: a review. Foods. 12(11):2092. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33884 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8300 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |