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Cactaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Leuenbergeria bleo

Leuenbergeria bleo

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Shrub
Growth—

A plant of low elevations in dry and humid climates[1]. Most Leuenbergeria species occur in dry forests and thorn-scrub habitats in a tropical climate with a more or less pronounced dry season of about two to five months[2]. This species is a notable exception, if the information available is correct. It is reported growing on sandy soil along streams in lowland evergreen forests in Panama and Colombia[2] Prefers some shade, at least in the hotter weather[3]. Requires a moist but well-drained soil[3, 4]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5[3]. Species in this genus can be evergreen, but are deciduous under conditions with seasonal drought. Iin cultivation they also lose their leaves if the mean temperature falls below around 15°c[2].

Propagation

Seed - fresh seed can be slow to germinate, it is best to sow seed that is between several months to 2 years old and this should germinate after a few days. Even when five years old, seed can have a 50% germination rate[2]. Easily grown from cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken during the dry season[5, 2]. Easily grown from cuttings of half-ripe wood[5]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leuenbergeria+bleo>

Pollinators

Insets

References

  1. [1]Tree Species of Panama — http://ctfs.arnarb.harvard.edu/webatlas/mainframe.php?order=s ↩︎Factsheets on all the tree and shrub species of Panama, giving identification guide, brief guide to the species and some uses. A vast, but rather incomplete work as of 15/07/09.
  2. [2]Pereskia (Cactaceae) — Leuenberger B.E. · The New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, New York · 1986 · ISBN 0-89327-307-4 ↩︎The genus Pereskia (sensu lato) has been divided into several genera since this treatment was written, but it still remains an excellent guide to the plants.
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]Desert Tropicals — http://www.desert-tropicals.com/ ↩︎The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
  5. [5]Fruits of Warm Climates — Morton. J. · Florida Flair books, Florida. · 1987 · ISBN 0961018410 ↩︎A very well written guide to about 125 species.
  6. [6]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  7. [7]Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 27 — Standley P.C. · Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1928 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Contains a Flora of the Panama Canal zone
  8. [8]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  9. [9]Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory — Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. · U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service · 1987 ↩︎A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.