2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The land of the hot sun Thailand treats tourists with its exotic fruits. An unusual product called pitahaya attracts attention at first sight. Bright, large fruits beckon to taste the amazing filling. Let's take a closer look at a representative of the cactus family
Fairytale legend
In the homeland of pitahaya, the plant has several names: pitaya, dragon fruit, prickly pear, hilocereus.
According to an ancient legend, brave warriors fought large fire-breathing dragons every day. Used the prey as food. The most delicious product turned out to be the heart of a formidable beast.
Over time, dragons disappeared from the face of the earth, turning into wonderful plants with red scaly fruits resembling a fiery heart that grow in the warm climate of the wild.
It is believed that the eaten fruits of pitahaya endow a person with strength, courage, and health. Having studied the composition of the wonderful fruit, scientists have found confirmation of these properties.
Distribution area
In the wild, the plant is found in South, Central America, Mexico. As a food crop, it is grown in the fields of China, Australia, Japan, Israel, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka.
In the northern regions, it is cultivated in greenhouses, indoor winter gardens, at home.
Biological properties
Hilocereus is a wavy perennial cactus of creeping or liana-like shape. Easily climbs neighboring trees, reaches for the sun, reaching sizes of 5-10 m.
Stems are powerful, ribbed, 5-8 cm in diameter, dark green with numerous segments. The shoots are equipped with aerial roots to absorb additional moisture. Rare long spines are arranged singly or in groups.
Large (up to 20 cm in diameter), funnel-shaped flowers with a wonderful aroma bloom at night. The multi-layered scaly structure creates a cascade of bent, pointed, whitish-cream petals. Depending on the variety, the place of growth, buds bloom in July-December or all year round.
After 1-1.5 months, reddish or yellow, oval-oblong or spherical fruits, 8-12 cm in size, weighing 150-500 g, ripen. The smooth skin is covered with triangular scales. The pulp is white, less often red with small, black, obovate grains. Under favorable growing conditions, it can ripen up to 6 crops per year.
Accommodation conditions
For hilocereus, loose, permeable soil with the addition of river sand is suitable. The plant requires a minimum amount of water. With an excess, rotting of the root part occurs.
Pitaya winters in countries with warm climates outdoors at temperatures of at least 5 degrees. In other regions, it is used as a greenhouse or home culture. It is thermophilic, drought-resistant. Accumulates reserve moisture in fleshy leaves and stems, using it sparingly during an unfavorable period.
Loves sunny open spaces. Easily tolerates partial shade.
Application
Pitaya are used in several areas:
• decorative gardening;
• cooking;
• traditional medicine;
• cosmetology.
Let's take a closer look at the industry.
Landscape design
In countries with warm climates, bushes are planted along the border of the site, creating a hedge of tall stems. The thorns do not give an opportunity to get into the territory of the owners. It lends itself well to a haircut. The plant is given any bizarre shape.
Free-standing specimens in an open area need good support. Solitary plantings in the south or tubs taken out for the summer in the northern regions against the background of a lawn look great. Red fruits stand out among the luscious greenery. From a distance, the bushes look like a weeping Christmas tree shape, hung with bright, large lanterns. Cascades of powerful branches create the illusion of a frozen fountain.
The rest of the areas of application of pitaya will be considered in the next article.
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