Pereskia

The species of Pereskia as the genus is now circumscribed share many features in common with Leuenbergeria, which was formerly included in a more broadly defined Pereskia. They are shrubs, trees or climbing vines, with maximum heights varying between 3 and 10 m. Unlike the great majority of species of cacti, they have persistent leaves. Like all cacti, they have spines borne on areoles. Their succulent leaves are longer than wide, reaching 11 cm by 5 cm in the case of P. aculeata. Their flowers are borne in small clusters or are solitary, except for P. aculeata which can have inflorescences of 70 or more individual flowers. P. aculeata has edible fruits, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter; the other species have smaller fruits, only up to 6 mm in diameter in the case of P. horrida. Unlike Leuenbergeria, the stems of Pereskia delay forming bark and have stomata. == Taxonomy ==

It is likely that Charles Plumier collected the first Pereskia specimens from the West Indies in the late 17th century. Plumier described two species of Pereskia in 1703. Linnaeus did not accept Plumier's genus, placing the two species in Cactus, as C. pereskia and C. portacifolius. Species , Plants of the World Online placed the following species in Pereskia: Former species placed in Leuenbergeria are: • Pereskia aureiflora F.Ritter = Leuenbergeria aureiflora (F. Ritter) Lodé • Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC = Leuenbergeria bleo (Kunth) Lodé • Pereskia guamacho F.A.C.Weber = Leuenbergeria guamacho (F.A.C. Weber) Lodé • Pereskia lychnidiflora DC = Leuenbergeria lychnidiflora (DC.) Lodé • Pereskia marcanoi Areces = Leuenbergeria marcanoi (Areces) Lodé • Pereskia portulacifolia (L.) DC = Leuenbergeria portulacifolia (L.) Lodé • Pereskia quisqueyana Alain = Leuenbergeria quisqueyana (Alain) Lodé • Pereskia zinniiflora DC = Leuenbergeria zinniiflora (DC.) Lodé Synonyms :Pereskia colombiana = Leuenbergeria guamacho :Pereskia corrugata = Leuenbergeria bleo :Pereskia cubensis = Leuenbergeria zinniiflora :Pereskia godseffiana = Pereskia aculeata :Pereskia humboldtii = Pereskia horrida :Pereskia philippi = Maihuenia poeppigii :Pereskia subulata = Austrocylindropuntia subulata :Pereskia vargasii = Pereskia horrida :Pereskia zehntneri = Quiabentia zehntneri :Pereskia zinniaefolia = Leuenbergeria ziniiflora ==Distribution==

The species of Pereskia are native to southern tropical and southern South America. Pereskia aculeata has the widest distribution, and is also found in Panama. It has been introduced into several other parts of the world, including Mexico and the United States, South Africa, China and Australia. ==Uses==

The genus is not of great economic importance. Pereskia aculeata has edible fruit and is widely cultivated. The fruit contains numerous small seeds. It somewhat resembles a gooseberry in appearance and is of excellent flavor. This plant is a declared weed in South Africa. It can also be used as a rootstock for grafting of Schlumbergera to create miniature trees. == References ==