Accepted Scientific Name: Harrisia pomanensis (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2: 155, fig. 225. 1920 [9 Sep 1920] Britton & Rose
Cereus bonplandii var. pomanensis (Harrisia pomanensis) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Origin and Habitat: Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and in Paraguay in the Alto Paraguay, Boquerón, Central, Cordillera, Paraguarí, and Presidente Hayes departments. It is naturalised in Australia and elsewhere in the tropics and subtropics.
Type locality: Poman, Catamarca, Argentina.
Altitude range: It grows at elevations between 10 and 1,000 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This cactus occurs in the Chaco Region of Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. It also occurs in Uruguay. It grows low lying in the borders, as well as inside the Dry Chaco forest of the western region. It grows in clearings within the Chacoan province, and below shrubs, mostly "jarillas" (Larrea spp.), in the Monte province. Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] is widely distributed and locally abundant throughout its range, and there are no major threats affecting it. It is favored by livestock grazing and is consumed by the Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri) in the dry season. Also Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] you will find most of the night flowers are white and very fragrant to attract night flying moths for pollination.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Harrisia pomanensis
back
Accepted name in llifle Database:Harrisia pomanensis (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Britton & RoseCactaceae (Britton & Rose) 2: 155, fig. 225. 1920 [9 Sep 1920]Synonymy: 11
Accepted name in llifle Database:Harrisia pomanensis subs. regelii (Weing.) R.KieslingDarwiniana 34(1–4): 395 (1996)Synonymy: 5
back
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Applecactus, Midnight Lady
SPANISH (Español): Ulúa
Description: Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] (Eriocereus pomanensisSN|8542]]SN|8542]]) is a sprawling or clambering cactus to 3 m or more long, sometimes somewhat shrubby, it has arching, bluish-green, rhizome-like stems with four to six blunt, rounded ribs. Growth habit permitting this cactus to explore and asexually reproduce in its immediate habitat. The spine clusters have each one central up to 2 cm long and five to seven shorter radials. Up to 15 cm in length, the flowers are white. Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] is wide-ranging and quite variable. Subspecies regelii tends to be more shrubby, with smaller stems having fewer spines; it occurs only in Argentina.
Stem: Erect at first, then arching or even prostrate, sprawling or clambering, bluish-green, or grey-green, glaucous, nearly round in cross section, jointed to 3 m (or more) long and 2-4-(rarely to 8) cm in diameter.
Ribs: 4-7(-rarely to 7) blunt, rounded, not tuberculate.
Areoles: 1.2-1.4 cm apart.
Spines: Rigid, all subulate, needle-like, white rose-coloured or red when young, later whitish or greyish, tipped blackish.
Central spine: Solitary, 10-20(-25) mm long.
Radial spines: 5 to 8 about 1 cm long.
Flowers: About 15 cm long. Flower-tube with ovate, acute scales 1 cm or more long, hairy in the axils. Outer perianth-segments linear, acute; inner perianth segments oblong, acutish, white. Stigma-lobes numerous, linear.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruit: Spherical, slightly tuberculate, spineless, with a few scales3-5 cm in diameter red, splitting laterally to expose the spongy white funicles and black seeds.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Harrisia pomanensis group
Harrisia pomanensis (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Britton & Rose: is a sprawling or clambering cactus to 3 m, sometimes somewhat shrubby. The flowers are white c. 15 cm long. Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.- Harrisia pomanensis subs. bonplandii (J.Parm. & Pfeiff.) P.J.Braun & Esteves: same as Harrisia pomanensis, but flowers up to 22 cm in length, with scales of the perianth-tube copiously woolly in the axils. Distribution: Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.
- Harrisia pomanensis subs. regelii (Weing.) R.Kiesling: tends to be more shrubby, with smaller stems having fewer spines. Distribution: Argentina.
Notes: Harrisia jusbertiiSN|8539]]SN|8195]] is considered by some to possibly be a natural intergenic hybrid betwee Harrisia pomanensisSN|8195]]SN|8539]], and Echinopsis eyriesiiSN|8004]]SN|8004]] rather than a pure species.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
3) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
4) Oakley, L., Pin, A. & Duarte, W. 2013. “Harrisia pomanensis.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 December 2014.
5) Karl J. Niklas “The Evolutionary Biology of Plants” University of Chicago Press, 08 giu 1997
6) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” volume 2 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington f. 225 1920
7) Thomas H. Everett “The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture” Volume 4 Courier Corporation, 01 January 1981
8) “Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication” Volume 248, Part 2 Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1920
9) Haustein, Erik “Der Kosmos-Kakteenführer” Franckh-Kosmos 1983
Cultivation and Propagation: Harrisia pomanensis (Eriocereus pomanensisSN|8542]]SN|8542]]) presents no problems in cultivation and will do well in a sunny spot in a cactus house.
Soil: Grow them in rich, porous, sandy soil and let their soil dry out between waterings. If potted, repot in the spring if their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. Fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. to promote good drainage. After repotting, do not water for a week or more.
Hardiness: These plants will not tolerate extended periods of frost; they can survive to a minimum temperature of -4°C.
Traditional uses: The Lengua-Maskoy natives eat the raw fruits, as well as boiled or roasted roots of this species.
Propagation: It can be increased by seeds or cuttings. Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer, Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife just above a bud or shoot (a 7-10cm long tip or branch is most suitable for propagation) Leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted into a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.
Garden uses: Harrisia pomanensisSN|8539]]SN|8539]] forms long columns that are great for grafting valuable species of cacti and - differently from other common grafting stock - don’t induces plants to elongate out of character and produce weak spination. The scions on Harrisia don’t grow as fast as the ones grafted on other tender and stronger stock, but they prosper very easy and can be kept in dark and cold places in winter. It can easily endure some light frost, too.
