Dragon fruit as it is called. Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit) - what is it, how it is eaten, what the taste is like, where it grows, the benefits

Thailand is famous for its unusual legends and exotic fruits. One of the ancient Thai parables is associated with the amazing fruit of a fruit plant - pitahaya (pitaya).

In ancient times, there were deadly battles between warriors and dragons. Whenever the winged giant lost and was no longer able to fight, instead of the incinerating flame, a wondrous fruit appeared from its mouth, popularly nicknamed the "dragon's heart" or "dragon's eye".

What it is?

In different regions of Thailand, the unique fruit is called differently: prickly pear, dragonfruit, keumangkon, pitahaya and pitaya. According to legend, the fruit, unknown in nature, was so good that the Thai people exterminated all dragons for it. And the plant survived and took root in the warm climate of the mysterious kingdom. And only the scales on the dragon fruit now remind the Thai people of the battles they won with the fire-breathing monsters in the distant past.

According to the scientific description, the pitaya plant belongs to the cactus family. The liana-like wild pitahaya is an epiphytic cactus widespread in hot Mexico, and also prevalent in South and Central America.

The stem of the plant reaches 10 meters in height. It is cultivated in most Asian countries in the Southeast. In addition to Thailand, exotic fruits are grown in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Hawaii, and even in the northern part of Australia.

A striking plant blooms exclusively at night. In the dark, the large white flowers on the pitahaya can be confused with giant moths. The shape of the fragrant flowers is characteristic of all plants of the cactus family. The enchanting scent of a blooming dragon seems to spread magic in the air, making the night magical. Fruits on a cactus vine appear in 30-50 days, and this can happen up to 6 times a year.

The ripe fruit, nicknamed "the heart of the dragon", looks very unusual outwardly. The weight of one pitaya is from 150 to 600 grams. The size does not exceed a large apple, but the shape is more oblong. The skin color varies from yellow to raspberry, depending on the variety of pitahaya. From above, the skin is covered with large scales, really reminiscent of the skin of a dragon. At the ends, the scales are painted in an intense light green color. The fruit looks curious. Under the dense shell, a creamy, whitish, pinkish or purple flesh is found.

The attractive plant is not only pleasing to the eye, but also widely used in local medicine to heal cuts and wounds, improve vision, increase appetite, enhance memory and reduce weight.

The Thai people use for treatment not only the fruits, but also the stems of the plant, extracting healing juice from them. If you observe the proportions, it turns out to be an excellent means for strengthening the cardiovascular system, a circulatory stimulant, an antispasmodic, and even an anthelmintic drug.

But before starting treatment, you need to know the specific dosage. Exceeding the dose at one time is dangerous for poisoning.

Taste characteristics

The most popular fruits for eating are yellow, Costa Rican and red pitaya. The size, color of the skin and flesh is not the same and depends on the type of tropical fruit.

It is not recommended to “lean” on the fruit with fanaticism. The concentration of nutrients in dragonfruit is quite capable of provoking an allergic reaction. The seeds in the pulp are almost imperceptible to the taste, but are difficult to digest, so it is best to chew them thoroughly. At the same time, they contain a lot of lipids and tannin, which is shown in diabetes mellitus, and has a positive effect on vision.

The ripe fruit of the pitaya is rich in phosphorus, protein, vitamins C and B, useful iron, essential calcium, niacin and riboflavin. Eating the fruit in food has a positive effect on the functions of the intestinal tract, cardiovascular and endocrine systems, stops indigestion and eliminates flatulence.

Diabetics can enjoy pitaya without fear, on the contrary, the fruit helps to normalize sugar levels. And thanks to the calcium in its composition, the dragon's eye is indispensable in medical nutrition for diseases affecting bones and joints. This same mineral will help strengthen teeth, hair and nails. Regular, moderate consumption of fruit rich in vitamin C will strengthen the immune system and help avoid acute respiratory infections in the midst of the development of viruses.

It is also useful for dieting, as it is low in calories. It is well absorbed and does not cause a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

Nutritional value per 100 g of fruit:

calorie content - 50 kcal;
proteins - 5 grams;
fats - 3 grams;
carbohydrates - 12 grams.

The color of the pulp does not affect the taste of the dragon, which disappoints many with its neutrality. At first glance, it seems that the bright fruit is as rich in taste as it is in color. But the pulp has a mild sweetness and herbaceous aftertaste. The seeds are slightly crunchy on the teeth, but not tough like the tropical kiwi fruit.

What is the right way to eat pitahaya?

In Thailand and the hottest countries of Asia, dragon fruit is sold year-round. The dragon fruit plant is now cultivated wherever a tropical climate prevails. Leaders in the pitaya harvest: Thailand, China, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The varieties with fuchsia pulp and white content are most often sold in Russia. You can buy them in large supermarkets. The color of the flesh can be easily identified by the appearance of the fruit. The pink and yellow peel with greenish leaf-scales hides white flesh under its shell, and the purple content of the fruit is usually of a rich raspberry hue.

You can enjoy fruit in different ways:

cut the fruit into two equal parts and serve as a dessert (it is more convenient to eat with a spoon, choosing all the pulp, to the skin);
cut the pitaya into slices, and treat yourself without using cutlery;
peel the skin like a banana and take a bite;
mix with yogurt or sorbet;
add to a cocktail with any citrus fruits.

In America, it is popular to prepare a dessert with the addition of pitahaya. The fruit is whipped in a blender bowl with condensed milk, almonds and Mascarpone cheese, and eaten for breakfast with toast or used as an impregnation of biscuits. From these tropical fruits, the Thai people have got used to making jams, mousses and sauces. Even pitahaya flowers are beneficial for enterprising owners. Tea with plant petals takes on a breathtaking aroma.

The sweetish fruit contains only 50 calories per 100 g of its weight. This means that it can be included in a diet aimed at losing weight without a twinge of conscience. Nutritionists agree with this, who also recommend fruit to children instead of sweets and sweets. But only after three years, given that pitaya is an allergen.

It is better to eat the product fresh, and not after heat treatment, in order to get the maximum benefit from the process, and even quench your thirst. This fruit is a favorite delicacy among the population of long-lived countries, thanks to its trace elements, minerals and vitamins.

The skin of the dragon fruit is not eaten, but immediately thrown away. There is no benefit or taste in it. It is easy to separate the shell from the pulp with a knife or pry off the edge and remove the skin, like from a banana.

The content of the exotic fruit found many fans, but many were not impressed at all. To determine your attitude towards a fruit, you need to personally taste what it tastes and smells like.

In order to buy this fruit, you do not need to go to hot countries or wait for a gift from there. Various varieties of pitahaya are sold in Russian shopping centers. Fruits with pink skin are mostly widespread, with yellow skin less common. To taste a really tasty and aromatic dragonfruit, you need to choose a ripe fruit. You can check maturity by lightly pressing on the shell, if the fruit under it is soft, it means that it is ripe. Hard to the touch, the fruit of the pitaya will turn out to be tasteless, or rather, tasteless. Ripe fruits are easy to peel with your hands.

When buying pitahaya, pay attention to the freshness of the fruit. The disadvantage of the product is that the fruits quickly deteriorate, crumple, and are difficult to transport. That is why you should not buy pitahaya in kilograms. The exotic gift of hot countries is not stored in the refrigerator for more than three days

For information on how to eat pitahaya and its beneficial properties, see the next video.

Greetings to the readers of the I and the World website! Many people like exotic fruits, and one of them is the "dragon's eye" - a fruit that grows in the tropics of China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia. In the article you will see a photo and read a description of an ancient tree.

Another name for the fruit is longan and it grows on an evergreen tree of the same name.

They first heard about it when one of the travelers brought several seedlings of this tree from southern China as a gift to the Queen of Thailand.

How does a tree and its fruits grow?

Reaches a height of 12 meters, and the crown is so spreading that it can be up to 14 meters wide. The plant loves warmth and abundant moisture, but can withstand temperatures of -2 degrees. The fruits ripen in clusters, like grapes, but are slightly larger in size and of a different color (from brown to orange).

The sweet, translucent flesh, with a slightly musky taste, has a jelly consistency. And inside there is a large, black seed. If the fruit is cut in half, the cut looks like a dragon's eye.

Some foodies believe that the taste is similar to lychee. It is a pink exotic fruit with a pineapple-like skin with sweet and sour, white and very juicy flesh. Someone tastes like currants, someone like strawberries. By the way, lychees are also called "dragon's eye", only squinted, because the seed has an oval shape.

But back to Longan. Despite their small size, fruit trees have many useful properties: they contain fats, proteins, acids, various vitamins and minerals. The leaves contain natural antioxidants: quercitrin and quercetin. Extracts are prepared from flowers and seeds, which are used to treat oncology. The pulp of the fruit helps well when the temperature rises, as well as for the prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In general, the fruit reduces the heartbeat and unreasonable excitement, after which sleep and rest will be restful.

With all such great benefits of the "dragon's eye", diabetics should not be eaten in large quantities - the calorie content per 100 grams is 60 calories.

How is the fruit, that is, how to clean it?

Using a knife, or you can press on the skin with your hands and squeeze out the pulp. Remove the bone and eat. At room temperature, the fruit will not lie for a long time due to the high sugar content, and it will remain in the refrigerator for almost a week. Can be frozen or dried, then the fruits will last much longer.

From Thailand and some other countries, longan is exported around the world at $ 2 per kg. And if you come to Asia, then for a small amount you can buy a large basket of different fruits.

If you want to grow a longan at home, you need to take seeds only brought from the homeland of the fruit: Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese or from another Asian country.

Those brought to your country will not fit, because they are imported unripe, and such germination is zero. The seeds can be germinated or put directly into loose, soft soil and watered abundantly with warm water. A box of earth can be put on a battery and sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks. Transplant them all separately from each other and in 3-5 years a fruit-bearing tree will grow in your home.

Better, of course, to go to the homeland of tropical fruits, for example, to Pattaya or another Thai city, enjoy tropical fruits and bring different seeds. But you cannot take out the land, even on the roots of seedlings.

I would like to say about one more "dragon" fruit - pitahaya or pitahaya, unusually beautiful and unusual in appearance.

The white pulp with black seeds tastes like banana and kiwi. This fruit is sometimes called the "heart of the dragon". Doesn't it seem like it?

You learned what some exotic fruits are called, what they taste like and how much they cost. And the reviews of tourists who have tasted the "dragon's eye" are, of course, different. Well, the taste and color ...

Where and how does dragon fruit grow

Dragon's eye, grows in the dry conditions of the subtropical zone. Supplier countries are Thailand, primarily China, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, South and Central America.

In fact, the dragonfruit is a cactus fruit. It does not look like a simple cactus in our classical sense. Hilocereus has curly, like lianas, shoots with blossoming flowers, and after 1-1.5 months the fruits are tied. During the cultivation period, growing cacti on special farms use special handrails, stops and garters. They allow you to collect chaotic growing branches and track how the dragon's eye grows.

Cactus flowers bloom exclusively at night. Everyone who has witnessed this speaks of a wonderful aroma that is in the air.

Dragon fruit season in Thailand

Over the past ten to twenty years, our compatriots have fallen in love with heavenly Thailand with passionate love. Maybe some of you were brought pitahaya as an edible souvenir.

For 12 months, a heat-loving cactus brings up to 5-6 harvests. After the flower withers, the edible fruit itself is formed within 35-55 days. An important condition is the absence of moisture, which threatens rotting of a flower or fruit.

How to eat pitahaya

Pitaya tastes like a gourmet cocktail and has a watery texture. When choosing dragon fruit to eat, discard specimens with damage and dark spots on the shell. The same goes for hard fruits. They can be placed in a dark, dry place where they will calmly lie down and ripen.

How to choose ripe pitahaya so that you can eat it right away? The peel should be outwardly neat, and when pressed, the fruit will be soft. The dragon fruit is definitely ripe and ready to give you its sweetness.

Let's talk about pitahaya, a fruit as the locals eat it. To avoid embarrassment, we warn in advance that the top shell is thrown away, it is unnecessary to try the peel.

You can simply cut into slices, as we usually do with ours. But this is not the most convenient way;
Can be peeled like a banana, starting at the top. The opened pulp is eaten as it opens;
The most aesthetic way is to cut the fruit in half and eat the pulp with a teaspoon. Some people like it so much.
We recommend that you thoroughly chew the pits in the inner part of the fruit. The solid particles are poorly digested in the stomach. However, the bones have a beneficial effect on the digestive system and vision.
Pitaya can be added to neutral salads and snacks, or used to decorate pastry masterpieces.
The dragon fruit is used to prepare alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, interesting cocktails and smoothies, jellies and jams.

Calorie content of dragon fruit

The pitahaya fruit has an extremely low calorie content, and the level of nutrients is very high. For 100 gr. the product accounts for approximately 50 kilocalories. The fruit has a low energy value, but still saturates well due to fiber.

The chemical composition of the pitahaya

Pitahaya dragon fruit is very healthy and highly regarded among nutritionists. The fruit contains water, fiber, micro and macro elements. Vitamins in pitahaya are represented by group B, C and PP.

The composition of the BZHU per 100 g:

proteins 0.5 g;
fats 0.3 g;
carbohydrates 12.0 g.

Dragon fruit health benefits

Based on the chemical structure, it is clear that the benefits of pitahaya are colossal for the whole organism.

The dragon heart will bring great benefits to the stomach, normalizing the digestive system and eliminating toxins and toxins. A significant advantage of the fruit is the presence of a high proportion of fiber, and it helps to start the cleansing process in the vital organs.

For people suffering from arthrosis and other chronic diseases, it is advisable to introduce the dragon's eye into their personal diet. The anti-inflammatory effect of the plant has been known for a long time. The use of the fruit by diabetics is especially welcome, since the chemical composition has a positive effect on blood sugar levels.

Women love pitahaya for its antioxidants. Antioxidants help maintain youthful and beautiful skin and actively fight free radicals. An effective moisturizing effect is achieved through the regular application of special nourishing masks from fruit gruel.

Immunomodulatory properties, preventive action against frequent respiratory and colds diseases is explained by the high content of vitamin C in the dragon's heart.

During pregnancy, tastes undergo tremendous changes. Expectant mothers are often drawn to exotic delicacies. Pitaya will appeal to many women and will have a beneficial effect on the unborn baby.

During breastfeeding, it is itself a test for the fragile female body, so that healthy food will never become superfluous, but only benefit. Of course, this is only possible in the absence of allergies. The introduction of a new fruit into the diet should not be harsh. The breastfeeding mother should see if this has given a negative reaction towards the nursing baby.

Contraindications for pitahaya

In pitahaya, there is benefit and harm in equal measure. Even the most useful product for a person has a number of contraindications. In everything, especially in nutrition, it is important to listen to a sense of proportion.

Initially, any exotic ingredient should be handled with care. The risk for little gourmets under three years old may be too great - from diathesis on the cheeks to difficult situations with a chair.

Another vulnerable category is people prone to various types of allergies, especially food allergies. Although the basic part of the composition of the overseas delicacy is water, the tasting should start with one small fruit. If a reaction in the form of tearing, sneezing, skin redness does not appear, then a green light is on for further tests.

Attention to people with a weak stomach! With an overactive passion for pitahaya, unpleasant consequences from the gastrointestinal tract in the form of heartburn, flatulence and other intestinal disorders are possible. In a word,

Finally, one more little piece of advice. Knowledgeable people recommend that before eating dragon fruit, keep it in the refrigerator and eat it cool. In a warm state, the taste of pitahaya is not fully revealed, as we would like.

The American continent is considered the homeland of the pitahaya, but the countries of Southeast Asia are the main exporters of this exotic fruit. In addition to the SEA region, this fruit grows in Japan, Northern Australia, Armenia, Israel and the Hawaiian Islands (USA). Pitahaya also has a second name - dragon fruit, which appeared thanks to the legend of the battle between people and dragons. When the weakened dragons began to surrender under the onslaught of a man, instead of a flame, a fruit of an unusual shape and color erupted from the fiery mouth. This fruit was pitahaya, which later began to be called the dragon fruit, which means dragon fruit in Russian.

The dragon fruit belongs to the cactaceae family and grows on an epiphytic liana-like climbing cactus. The plant, which can grow up to 10 m in height, is the closest relative of sweet pitaya. Epiphytes attach to other plants, but do not suck out their juices, but look for a fulcrum for further growth.

The cactus blooms exclusively at night. The process of appearance of white flowers is accompanied by a specific smell. After 30-50 days, fruits begin to set. In a dry climate and the absence of sudden temperature changes, the plant can bear fruit up to 6 times a year.

What does a dragon fruit look like?

The fruit of the pitahaya is oval in shape and is similar in size to a large apple. Weight ranges from 100 to 800 g. Some specimens can reach a kilogram. Covered with a scaly skin of yellow, raspberry or pink color. The pulp can be white or pale pink with small black seeds. In terms of consistency, the inside of the pitahaya is very similar to kiwi.

Today the white, red and yellow dragon fruit are cultivated. Only the last two species are exported. The main reason for the high cost and rarity of pitahaya is the difficulty in transporting the fruit. At the slightest contact, they are damaged and begin to deteriorate.

Dragon fruit season in Thailand

The harvest period for dragon fruit is June-September. The plant is very unpretentious, therefore, under suitable climatic conditions, it can bear fruit all year round. Despite the fact that the pitahaya loves a dry and hot climate, the fruit can survive short-term frosts. When it rains heavily, it starts to rot.

Growing pitahaya is quite a profitable and uncomplicated business. Unlike most other fruit trees, the cactus is maintenance free. On average, up to 30 tons of fruits are harvested per hectare of plantations. The fruit can be seen in Thai markets all year round.

Dragon fruit flavor

The taste of the fruit has an unsaturated diffuse sweetish taste. It may seem to many that the fruit is a little bland. The closest in taste is comparable to kiwi, however, pitahaya does not have such a pronounced aroma. In Thailand, the dragon fruit is sometimes used not for food, but as a decoration.

Useful properties of dragon fruit

Pitahaya can be called one of the healthiest treats on the planet. The fruit has many positive properties:

is a low-calorie product (50 Kcal per 100 g) and contains a large amount of lipids;
helps with abdominal pain and effectively fights upset stomach;
effectively resists bloating and normalizes bowel function;
has a positive effect on the endocrine and cardiovascular systems;
improves eyesight due to the tannin content;
recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus;
supplies calcium to the body.

The dragon fruit, which is 85% water, contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, C, iron and phosphorus. Pitahaya contains a large amount of antioxidants, fiber, improves well-being and has anti-inflammatory properties.

The beneficial properties of the fruit have long been appreciated by manufacturers of cosmetics that produce anti-aging face masks that tighten and tone the skin. The pulp of the fruit effectively helps against sunburn.

Dragon fruit harm

The only contraindication to eating pitahaya is allergic reactions. To determine if the body is susceptible to allergies, you need to try a small piece for the first time and observe your own body. If nothing happens, then the fruit can be made one of the components of the daily diet.

How to choose the right dragon fruit?

To determine the condition of the fruit, you need to carefully examine its peel. Overripe specimens usually have dark spots on the surface. Mature pitahaya should be slightly soft to the touch. If a hard fruit was purchased, then it is enough to leave it in the refrigerator for several days - the fruit will ripen and acquire a normal taste and texture.

How is dragon fruit peeled and eaten?

The peel of the pitahaya is easy enough, but there are several universal ways to peel dragon fruit:

Gradually peel off, starting from the top, and eat the exposed pulp like an apple.
Eat in slices like a melon.
Make an incision over the entire surface of the fruit and gradually peel off the skin without touching the flesh.

Most often, the pitahaya is simply cut into two halves, the contents of each of which are eaten away with a spoon. The peel is not good for food. To get a better taste of the dragon fruit, it must be cooled beforehand.

The pulp can be combined with other fruits and foods, but ingredients with a pungent taste should be avoided. Despite the fact that Thais prefer to get rid of black seeds, they contain a large amount of nutrients. The seeds can be chewed, but they are difficult to digest and can cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

Most of the pitahaya around the world are consumed fresh. In Thailand, jams, candies, yoghurts, jellies, sherbet and other sweets are made from the fruit. It is also used to prepare refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails, alcoholic drinks and wine.

In cooking, not only pitahaya fruits are used, but also its flowers, which are added to tea.

Pitahaya or pitaya is the fruit of several varieties of cactus. Pitahaya usually belongs to the genus Stenocereus, while pitahaya (or dragon fruit) is a fruit from the genus Hylocereus. You can find out how to grow it at home from seeds on this page. It also offers a description of the culture and its requirements for environmental conditions for successful development, flowering and fruiting. Look at the photo of pitahaya - this magnificent plant can decorate any interior Pitahaya is better known as dragon fruit - it takes this name from Asian countries: Indonesia - buah naga (dragon fruit), khamers in Thailand - sror kaa neak (from dragon scales), Taiwan - kaeo mangkon (dragon crystal), Laos - maak manggohn, Viet Nam - thanh long (green dragon) and China - huǒ lóng guǒ (dragon pearl fruit). There are other common names: strawberry pear, or nanectica fruit, for example (another kind of pear).

Cactus and pitahaya plant: photo and description

The pitahaya cactus was originally native to Mexico, but was later transplanted into Central America and other parts of the world. This plant is grown in East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, in countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh. More recently, they have also been found in Okinawa, Hawaii, Israel, Northern Australia, Southern China and Cyprus. The following description will give you a general idea of the culture. You can also see a variety of pitahaya photos that illustrate the appearance of the plant:

For the first time, the fruit was introduced into wide circulation by Europeans, most likely, who brought it from the New World. In the case of Taiwan, the fruit was brought in by the Dutch. Pitahaya grows and blooms only at night: it has large white fragrant flowers of a typical shape. It is also grown as an ornamental plant - used in gardens as a flowering vine, and as a houseplant indoors. The plant can bloom three to six times a year, depending on growing conditions. A high air temperature and a sufficient degree of moisture saturation are required. It is advisable in a harsh climate to carry out additional lighting for about 5 hours a day. For this, phytolamps are used.

How is the pitahaya fruit eaten

Sour Pitaya is one of the varieties of this fruit. It is commonly eaten in the arid regions of North and South America. How the pitahaya fruit is eaten - we will tell you a little further, but for now let's dwell on the beneficial properties. The consumption of pitahaya lowers the level of glucose in the body, which makes the fruit one of the few available for people with diabetes. Also, numerous tests have confirmed the beneficial effect of the fruit on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

The pulp of the fruit is easily digestible, so it can be taken during intestinal and stomach disorders: the intestines return to normal, and the bloating disappears. The seeds of the fruit contain tannin, which is beneficial for people with poor eyesight. It is more sour, but at the same time refreshing, its pulp is juicier with a richer taste. Sour feeding in some deserts is an important source of food for the indigenous population. Dragon fruit bears fruit after 30-50 days of flowering, like other trees, and can produce 5-6 harvests per year. There are several farms in Taiwan that produce 30 tons of fruit per hectare annually. Drinking too much of the red dragon fruit pulp can lead to harmless coloration of urine or stool red.

To prepare the pitahaya for consumption, you must first cut the fruit to expose the pulp. The texture of the fruit is sometimes compared to kiwi, due to its black crunchy seeds. The pulp, which is eaten raw, is slightly sweet and, importantly, low in calories. The seeds are eaten with the pulp - they resemble the taste of nuts and are rich in lipids, but are poorly absorbed by the body if not chewed. The peel is not eaten.

The fruit is often made into wine or juice, or used to add flavor to other beverages. The flowers can also be eaten or used as tea if allowed to infuse for a while.

How to grow pitahaya from seeds at home

It is quite difficult to purchase cuttings in stores due to the fact that the plant is quite rare. Therefore, other methods of breeding cactus are used. Before you grow pitahaya from seeds at home, you should take care of the planting material. After thorough cleaning of the seeds from the pulp of the fruit, they are stored until completely dry. Ideally, the fruit should be clean, immaculate and overripe. Seeds grow well in compost or potting mix. The pitahaya cactus usually germinates after two weeks of shallow planting. Like other cacti, over-watering is a major problem for gardeners. As the plant continues to grow, the climbing plant will need some kind of support to rise. For example, you can put aerial roots down from the branches in addition to the basal roots. As soon as the plant reaches 4 kilograms of weight, it begins to bloom.

As we have already said, pitahaya begins to bloom at night, and fades by morning. They rely on nocturnal pollinators such as bats and butterflies for fertilization. Self-fertilization does not produce fruit in all species, while cross-breeding results in self-fertile cross-pollinated varieties. In the second species, as a rule, the fruit set and their quality increase.

Like other cacti, if a healthy piece of stem breaks open, it can take root in the soil and become a bush in its own right. The plant can withstand temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius and very short periods of frost, but will not last long under subzero temperatures. Excessive watering or a large amount of rainfall can cause rotting of fruits and flowers.

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