Pereskia
Pereskia aculeata
Pereskia: Pereskia aculeata
Common name:
PereskiaScientific name:
Pereskia aculeata (Cactaceae)Alternative common names:
Barbados gooseberry; blade apple; leafy cactus, lemon vine, primitive cactus; Spanish gooseberry (English), pereskia; barbadosstekelbessie (Afrikaans), uqwaningi (isiZulu)
A spiny, clambering vine with long slender branches, growing 2-10m or higher and superficially resembling a bougainvillea. The young stems and leaves are semi-succulent with pairs of short, hooked spines in the leaf axils. The older stems are woody with clusters of hard, straight spines 30-40mm long. Bright green to yellowish, lance-shaped leaves. White, cream or yellow flowers appear from March-July and are lemon-scented, followed by succulent berries about 20mm across which are initially green then turn yellow. It invades forest margins, clearings and plantations.
Additional Info
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Where does this species come from?
West Indies and South America (Brazil and Argentina)What is its invasive status in South Africa?
Existing legislation: CARA 2002 – Category 1 NEMBA – Category 1bWhere in South Africa is it a problem?
Mostly in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as scattered parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo ProvincesHow does it spread?
Spreads by seed dispersalWhy is it a problem?
It overtops and smothers other species, including large forest and plantation trees. Obstructs access to forests and plantationsWhat does it look like?
General description: Spiny, clambering vine with long slender branches, growing 2-10m or higher and resembling bougainvillea. Young stems and leaves semi-succulent with pairs of short, hooked spines in the leaf axils. The older stems are woody with clusters of hard, straight spines 30-40mm long. Leaves: Bright green to yellowish, lance-shaped leaves. Flowers: White, cream or yellow flowers appearing from March-July and lemon-scented. Fruit/Seeds: Succulent berries about 20mm across, initially green then turning yellowDoes the plant have any uses?
Used as an ornament and for security hedgingPlant me instead alternatives