Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Puerto Rico applecactus

(Harrisia portoricensis)

galery
en

Description

Harrisia portoricensis is a species of cactus in the genus Harrisia. Its common names include higo chumbo and Puerto Rico applecactus. It is endemic to Puerto Rico, where it is known from three smaller islands off the coast of the main island. The population is estimated at 59,000 on Mona Island, 148 individuals on Monito Island, and only 9 on Desecheo Island. Harrisia (applecactus and moonlight cactus) is a genus of night blooming cacti 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 Queensland, Africa, and the U.S. state of Hawaii. The genera Eriocereus (A.Berger) Riccob. and Roseocereus Backeb. have been brought into synonymy with this genus.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Cactaceae
Genus:Harrisia
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