Harrisia (applecactus and moonlight cactus[1]) is a genus of night blooming cacti.
They are tree-shaped, sometimes climbing or shrub-like cacti with cylindrical shoots. They reach heights of up to 7 m. The shoots are ribbed (four to twelve ribs) and do not form aerial roots. The flowers open at night, are white and up to 12 cm in diameter. After successful pollination, rounded fruits are formed, which are red to orange in color. The fruits have scales with areoles in the axils. The black seeds are 2 to 3 × 1.5 mm in size.[2]
Plants are native to Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and the U.S. state of Florida. The genus is named after William Harris, an important botanist of Jamaica. There are about 20 species.[3]
Harrisia cactus is an exotic invasive in Queensland,[4] [5] Africa, and the U.S. state of Hawaii.
The genus was established by Nathaniel Lord Britton in 1909.
, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species separated into two subgenera:[6] [7]
| Subgenus | Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eriocereus | Harrisia tetracantha | Bolivia. | |
| Harrisia regelii | Argentina (Santa Fé, Entre Ríos) to Uruguay. | ||
| Harrisia martinii | E. Paraguay to NE. Argentina. | ||
| Harrisia bonplandii | Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia | ||
| Harrisia pomanensis | Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay | ||
| Harrisia tortuosa | Bolivia to Uruguay. | ||
| Harrisia | Harrisia aboriginum | Florida, on the Gulf Coast of the counties of Lee, Sarasota County, and Charlotte | |
| Harrisia adscendens | Brazil | ||
| Harrisia brookii | Bahamas. | ||
| Harrisia caymanensis | Cayman Islands, Swan Islands. | ||
| Harrisia divaricata | Hispaniola. | ||
| Harrisia earlei | Cuba | ||
| Harrisia eriophora | Cuba. | ||
| Harrisia fernowii | Cuba. | ||
| Harrisia fragrans | St. Lucie County, Florida | ||
| Harrisia gracilis | Jamaica | ||
| Harrisia portoricensis | Puerto Rico | ||
| Harrisia taetra | Cuba. | ||