[PERESKIA]

Pereskia Species

 

 

Pereskia are really not verywell-known plants. Even among succulent lovers, they are certainly not highly prized. The fact they are a significant part of the Cataceae group still does not reward them special attention. Often, botanists will tell you, that they are usually found only in botanical gardens. Yet, they serve as a significant starting point for the debate about the origin of cacti. For some, these are the first cacti, before evolution and mutation took its course. The real reason for their obscurity may have more to do with the fact they need highly a tropical climate to survive. Yet, they are interesting plants, and they are some of my favourite cacti. The fact that they are not really succulents, make them even much more substantial to me. Have a look at some plants in these photos, and decide what you think.

 

Pereskia Species Identified

 

aculeata.jpg granviolacea.jpg bleo.jpg humboldti.jpg grandifolia.jpg
aculeata2.jpg bleo2.jpg grandiviolacea.jpg weberina.jpg humboldtii.jpg
IMG_0471cra.jpg lychnidiflora2.jpg quisqueyana.jpg portulacifolia.jpg quisqueyana2.jpg
romeroana.jpg sacharosa.jpg lychnidiflora.jpg stenantha2.jpg weberina2.jpg

 

aculeata grand-violacea bleo humboldtii grandifolia
aculeata-godsefiana bleo grand-violacea weberiana humboldtii
aculeata lychnidiflora quisqueyana portulacifolia quisqueyana
diaz-romeroana sacharosa lychnidiflora stenantha weberina

 

Pereskia grandifolia growing in a paqrk in Mexico City.

 

Pereskia bleo growing in Trinidad

 

The unwelcoming spines of the Pereskia aculeata in the Berlin Botanical Garden.

 

Pereskia sacharosa in cristate form at the Jardin Exotique in Monaco.

 

Grandifolia fruits at Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, California.