MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS 



451 



THE PITAYA (Fig. 61) 

 (Hylocereus, Lemaireocereus, and Cereus) 



The fruits of many cacti are known in tropical America by 

 the name pitaya, also spelled pitahaya, pitajaya, pitajuia,, 

 pitalla, and pithaya. These belong to several genera, formerly 

 classified under the genus Cereus, but the best fruits are ob- 

 tained from the genera Hylocereus and Lemaireocereus. Pitayas 

 are commonly larger 

 than tunas, and by 

 some are considered 

 superior to the latter 

 in quality, but their 

 use is less extensive. 



The genus Hyloce- 

 reus has several species 

 which produce good 

 fruits. The widely 

 cultivated plant which 

 usually passes under 

 the name of Cereus tri- 

 angularis is properly 

 Hylocereus undatus, 

 Brit, and Rose; the 

 true C. triangularis is 



found in Jamaica, but rarely elsewhere. All of these plants 

 are climbing in habit, and have three-angled stems. They 

 produce large, showy, night-blooming flowers, and oblong or 

 oval fruits, bright pink to red in color, sometimes more than 

 3 inches in length, with large leaf-like scales on the surface. 

 The flesh is white and juicy and is filled with numerous minute 

 seeds. In southern Mexico the fruits are used in various ways : 

 they may be eaten out of hand ; employed in making cooling 

 drinks and sherbets ; and for preserves. 



FIG. 61. The pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) is 

 widely cultivated in the American tropics. Its 

 bright rose-colored fruits contain white trans- 

 lucent pulp of pleasant taste ; they are produced 

 by a climbing cactus which bears handsome 

 night-blooming flowers. (X 3) 



