Pereskia nemorosa Rojas Acosta

PLANTS. OF SOUTH AMERICA
Collected by Taos. Morons, 1888-1890, ,
1	^ Central Pijraguay. t
iBi>
Pereskia nemorosa Rojas
B. Leuenberger 1983
Peireskia Bleo, D.C., Prod., iii, 475.
Asuncion (188). November-January. •
One of the most striking plants in the region, ofteh used as a
hedge, for which it is admirably adapted by its thick foliage, its
numerous, spreading branches, and its terrible thorns. Shrub-like,
often growing into a small tree 6—8 m. high. Stems green, smooth^
Leaves coriaceous, thick, nearly sessile, obovate or oblong, 5—10
cm. long, 4-5 cm. wide. The spines are in axillary clusters, the
main one 4 or 5 cm. in length, very sharp and strong, wounds from
which are very painful and apt to cause gangrene. The flowers, in
terminal clusters, are white and rose-colored, as large as a Camellia
blossom, very showy. Fruit a hard green nutlet, about 2^ cm. in
diameter, 1-celled, many seeded. Yery difficult to preserve in Herba-
rium specimens, as the leaves and stems fall to pieces in drying.
The common Spanish name of this species is Amapola, and the
(Guarani name S.urubi-y.
VS/
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BOTANICAL
garde*4
ojjikm.
Examined fw
THE CACTACEAE
Carnegie institution
ngteft
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
03890034
03890034