Harrisia gracilis

Botanical Description

Harrisia gracilis is a spiny, evergreen, much branched, shrubby or tree-like cactus, usually with a well-developed trunk up to 1 metre tall[ 1995 Title Monograph of Harrisia (Cactaceae) Publication Phytoneuron 2016-85: 1-159 Author Franck A.R. Publisher Year 2016 ISBN 2153 733X Description A very comprehensive treatment of the genus, with lots of illustrations and colour photos ]. The stems are green, cylindrical, very elongated, 3 - 7 metres long, 25 - 40mm in diameter[ 1987 Title The Cactus Family Publication Author Anderson E.F. Publisher Timber Press; Portland, Oregon Year 2001 ISBN 0-88192-498-9 Description An excellent work, giving botanical descriptions of virtually all the cacti, together with their range (but not their habitats) and sometimes also a photo. it also contains a long chapter detailing the many uses of cacti and another on cultivation.. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. Harrisia gracilis is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. However, it is treated there as an aggregate species ranging from Florida to the Caribbean (see notes above on taxonomy). When treated as being restricted to Jamaica, the status is likely to be different.