Xerophyte

Leaves

Short-petioled, simple, entire, lanceolate to oblong, or ovate, short-acuminate at the apex, tapering or rounded at base, 4–11 cm long and 1.5–4 cm broad, and deciduous in the dry season.

Seeds

Black, somewhat flattened, 4 to 5 mm in diameter; hilum basal, circular, depressed, or crater-shaped.

Description

Pereskia aculeataSN|27182]]SN|27182]] is a shrub, at first erect, but the branches often long, clambering, and growing to 10 m tall in trees. Like other members of the genus Pereskia, these plants are unusual cacti with spiny non-succulent stems and large leaves. In tropical America the plant climbs over walls, rocks, and trees, and at flowering time is covered with showy, fragrant blossoms, followed by beautiful clusters of yellow berries, but its strong, almost offensive odour makes it objectionable for growing near habitations. This species consists of several races, differing in shape and size of the leaves and in colour of the flowers.

Flowers

Numerous in panicles or corymbs, white, pale yellow, or pinkish, 2.5 to 5 cm broad strongly scented; ovary leafy and often spiny.

Chromosome Number

2n = 22

Spines

Spines in the axils of the leaves of younger stem, paired, rarely in threes, short, and hooked. Spines on older, lower part of stem solitary or 2 or 3 together, slender, woody and straight.

Stem

Scrambling vine s 3 to 10 meters long and 2–3 cm thick.

Fruits

A rounded berry, translucent white to light yellow, orange or red, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, when mature quite smooth. The fruit are also edible, containing numerous small seeds. It somewhat resembles the gooseberry in appearance and is of excellent flavour.