Pitaya Agria

Scientific Name: Stenocereus gummosus (Engelm.) A.C.Gibson & K.E.Horak
Synonym: Cereus gummosus, Lemaireocereus gummosus, Machaerocereus gummosus, Rathbunia gummosa
Family: Cactaceae

Origin: Mexico (coastal Baja California, Baja California Sur, some places in coastal Sonora)

Growth Habits: Erect or semiprostrate, 40 in. tall (1 m); stems up to 20 feet long (6 m), 1.6 to 2.4 in. wide (4-6 cm); 8 or 9 ribs; large areoles, 0.8 in. apart (2 cm); 3 to 6 flattened central spines, one of them 1.6 in. long (4cm ); 8-12 radials, 0.4 inch long (1 cm)

The flower, in Britton and Rose's The Cactaceae

The sap of the Stenocereus gummosus is toxic, and was used by the native to kill fishes.

Blooming Habits:
Pink to purple flowers, up to 8 inches long (20 cm). The scarlet edible fruit is spiny, subglobose, 2.4 to 3.2 inches in diameter (6-8 cm). The brown seeds are 2.5 mm long.