Harrisia martinii (Labour.) Britton

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Harrisia martinii

Photo: Penny English
Towla HQ

Harrisia martinii

Photo: Penny English
Towla HQ

Harrisia martinii

Photo: Penny English
Towla HQ

Harrisia martinii

Photo: Penny English
Towla HQ

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Eriocereus martinii (Labour) Riccob.
Common names: Martin'sapplecactus (English) Moon cactus (English) Torch cactus (English)
Frequency:
Status: Introduced and naturalised
Description:
Spiny succulent shrub, 1-3 m high with branched, scrambling, often decumbent stems rooting at the nodes. Cladodes bright green, cylindrical, 20-40 mm in diameter, ribbed. Spines clustered with 1-2 central spines much longer than others. Leaves absent. Flowers showy, white 15-20 cm long, opening at night. Fruit spherical, pinkish-red outside, white inside with black seeds.
Notes: Mostly planted as an ornamental but and in Zimbabwe only very occasionally known as a naturalized escape. A declared weed in South Africa.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Nov - Jan
Worldwide distribution: Native to South America but known as a naturalised and invasive species in Australia, Africa and Hawai.
Zimbabwe distribution: S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Thursday 26 May 2016
Literature:

Bromilow, C. (2010). Problem Plants and Alien Weeds of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 375. (Includes a picture).

Henderson, L. (2001). Alien weeds and invasive plants Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. Page 86. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Harrisia martinii:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Harrisia martinii

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Harrisia martinii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Harrisia martinii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Harrisia martinii
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Harrisia martinii
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Harrisia martinii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Harrisia martinii
JSTOR Plant Science: Harrisia martinii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Harrisia martinii
Plants of the World Online: Harrisia martinii
Tropicos: Harrisia martinii
Wikipedia: Harrisia martinii


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Harrisia martinii.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=225080, retrieved 29 March 2024

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