Harrisia (plant)


Harrisia is a genus of night blooming cacti.

Description

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 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.

Distribution

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.
Harrisia cactus is an exotic invasive in Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, in Africa, and in the U.S. state of Hawaii.

Taxonomy

The genus was established by Nathaniel Lord Britton in 1909.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species separated into two subgenera:
SubgenusImageScientific nameDistribution
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia tetracantha D.R.HuntBolivia.
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia regelii BorgArgentina to Uruguay.
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia martinii BrittonE. Paraguay to NE. Argentina.
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia bonplandii Britton & RoseParaguay, Argentina, Bolivia
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia pomanensis Britton & RoseArgentina, Bolivia, Paraguay
Eriocereus A.R. FranckHarrisia tortuosa Britton & RoseBolivia to Uruguay.
HarrisiaHarrisia aboriginum Small ex Britton & RoseFlorida, on the Gulf Coast of the counties of Lee, Sarasota County, and Charlotte
HarrisiaHarrisia adscendens Britton & RoseBrazil
HarrisiaHarrisia brookii BrittonBahamas.
HarrisiaHarrisia caymanensis A.R.FranckCayman Islands, Swan Islands.
HarrisiaHarrisia divaricata Backeb.Hispaniola.
HarrisiaHarrisia earlei Britton & RoseCuba
HarrisiaHarrisia eriophora BrittonCuba.
HarrisiaHarrisia fernowii BrittonCuba.
HarrisiaHarrisia fragrans Small ex Britton & RoseSt. Lucie County, Florida
HarrisiaHarrisia gracilis BrittonJamaica
HarrisiaHarrisia portoricensis BrittonPuerto Rico
HarrisiaHarrisia taetra ArecesCuba.