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Pereskia aculeata

Mill. (1768)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Cactaceae Genus: Pereskia

barbados gooseberry, Jerusalem thorn, leaf cactus

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or vines, clambering, 3–10 m.

Stems: Stems to 3 cm diam., spiny, areoles to 15 mm diam., largest on basal portion of stem.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple, leaflike or modified into spines. Alternate. Blades lanceolate to ovate or oblong, 4.5–11 × 1.5–5 cm, 0.5–1 mm thick. Spines of 2 kinds; primary spines (= first formed) 2 per areole, recurved, clawlike, 4–8 mm; secondary spines to 25 per older areole, straight, 10–35 mm. Margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers up to 70 in terminal or lateral inflorescences. Flowers bisexual (perfect), fragrant, 3 × 2.5–5 cm. Pedicels 5–15 mm; scales and areoles on prominent to inconspicuous tubercles. Tepals perigynous; Perianth whitish to light pink. Stamens numerous. Ovary inferior.

Fruit: Fruits yellow to orange; spheric; not angled; 40 × 15–25 mm; never proliferating. Seeds lenticular; 4.5–5 mm diam.; glossy.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat:

Elevation Range: 0–50 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Molokai Potentially naturalizing
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Gard. Dict. ed. 8: s.p. (1768)

Other References

Parker & Parsons 2012b:66 (NEWNAT/Mo? [Hālawa Valley, ID unconfirmed], H, DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Pereskia aculeata 68-004 Laau Paina Pl., Mokuleia Volunteer appeared in yard 2 yrs ago. Preserved_Specimen 4' tall scandent shrub; base of plant 2 diameter; areoles with numerous long, straight spines on older, thicker stems; younger stems with short, clawed spines; young lvs on branch ends reddish. Fruit orange, berry-like, w/2+ black seeds. Schultz, G. 98001 Oahu BISH 1998-03-05
2 Pereskia aculeata Koloa District Kalaheo, S end of Paplina Road before (N of) entrance to National Tropical Botanical Garden, roadside near PTBG Papalina House. Secondary vegetation with Java plum. Preserved_Specimen Vining shrub, stems scrambling, armed with spines, leaves fleshy, variegated yellow-green, pinkish color when young. Spreading vegetatively from yard trimmings. Lorence, D.H. 10299 Kauai BISH 2012-02-23
3 Pereskia aculeata 68-004 Laau Paina Pl., Mokuleia climbing over a fence Preserved_Specimen vine, stem slender green, leaves rather fleshy, flowers greenish white Fosberg, F.R. 12187 Oahu BISH 1934-12-03
4 Pereskia aculeata 68-004 Laau Paina Pl., Mokuleia Volunteer appeared in yard 2 yrs ago. Preserved_Specimen 4' tall scandent shrub; base of plant 2 diameter; areoles with numerous long, straight spines on older, thicker stems; younger stems with short, clawed spines; young lvs on branch ends reddish. Fruit orange, berry-like, w/2+ black seeds. Schultz, G. 98001 Oahu BISH 1998-03-05
5 Pereskia aculeata H.S.P.A. Experiment Station, Keeaumoku St., Honolulu climbing over a fence Preserved_Specimen vine; stem slender, green; leaves rather fleshy, flowers greenish white Fosberg, F.R. 12187 Oahu BISH 1934-12-03
6 Pereskia aculeata Akoni pule hwy, Hawi, N Kohala Naturalized. Associates: Justicia betonica, Ficus microcarpa, Schinus terebinthifolius, Senecio madagascariensis. Preserved_Specimen Vining cactus with stipular thorns, double-throin on new growthy, and many-thorned on older growth. Fleshy leaf with pronounced midvein, lacking secondary venation. No fls or frt. Parker, J. 109 Hawaii BISH 2010-02-02
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