Harrisia aboriginum
Cact. 2: 154. 1920.
Common names: Yellow prickly apple aboriginal prickly apple prickly applecactus
IllustratedEndemicConservation concern
Synonyms: Cereus aboriginum (Small ex Britton & Rose)L ittle Cereus gracilis var. aboriginus (Small ex Britton & Rose) L. D. Benson Harrisia donae-antoniae
Stems erect to reclining, to 6 m; ribs 9–11. Spines 7–9 per areole, pink when young, becoming brown tipped, to 1 cm. Flowers: flower tube 10–15 cm, smooth or scarcely ridged; scales turgid, with axillary tufts of hairs; hairs tawny brown, stiff, 6–10 mm; buds with brown hairs. Fruits dull yellow at maturity, spheric, 65–75 mm diam.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Coastal hammocks, shell mounds
Elevation: 0 m
Discussion
Of conservation concern.
According to D. F. Austin (1984), Harrisia aboriginum and H. simpsonii are weakly separated, differing primarily in fruit color, which remains yellow in H. aboriginum while turns to red at maturity in H. simpsonii.
Harrisia aboriginum has been found on pre-Columbian, aboriginal shell mounds, hence the specific epithet.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.