Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Day of the triffids....
How awesome is the epiphytic cactus below? I mean its basically taken over this tree entirely - little cactus branches are drooping down and climbing all over the place. Epiphytic cacti are not uncommon - the christmas cacti (Schlumbergera sp.) beloved of old ladies are probably the best known example and the related orchid or waterlily cacti (Epiphyllium sp.) are common in cultivation too. This one may do more than just look pretty though...
I think it might be a Dragonfruit (Hylocereus undatus) or related edible species. It had that look and almost all the other trees around were fruit trees so I half-wonder if this thing might have been put in there deliberately to add to the orchard. If so that would be tremendously cool bit of agriculture but even if its just a chance seedling of a non-edible epiphyte the scale is still breathtaking.
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2 comments:
It's a bit hard to tell just how large those cactus vines are,but I don't think that is a Pitaya (dragonfruit).Pitaya are grown here -its the latest fad fruit-and in order to pick the fruit are grown on a single stem that is then allowed to multiply and branch downward at a height of about 5 feet. The stem is quite thick (+/-6")and dark green.
Your pic resembles more the night blooming Cereus that is native here in Florida. It too produces an edible fruit,or Tuna.
But at that height in a tree you would never get to the fruit before the birds and bugs got to it first.
Thanks for this info. I suspect you're right regarding species. All the orchards trees were very tall and they were all being defruited by scarlet macaws and a range of other birds so I'm sure you're right about the locals not getting too many fruit!
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