SOUR PITAYA (Machaerocereus
gummosus)
The sour pitaya is a
sprawling, much-branched cactus, with branches up to 3
metres long (see also the image below). The stems are
dark grey-green. Where their tips touch the ground they
can take root, so that eventually this cactus can form
thick, impenetrable thickets. This cactus is a
near-endemic of the Baja California peninsula, although
it also grows in a small region of mainland Mexico. It is
a dominant plant in many desert regions of Baja
California. The name "sour pitaya" refers to
the fruits, which are edible but not as sweet as those of
the organ pipe cactus. The plant produces large white
flowers, usually in July - September.
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