Pereskia aculeata Mill.
Common Name: Lemonvine
Family: Cactaceae
Synonyms: Cactus lucidus Salisb., Cactus pereskia L., Pereskia fragrans Lem. ., Pereskia undulata Lem.
Plant Description: P. aculeata is a scrambling vine growing to 10m tall in trees, with stems 2 – 3 cm thick. Younger stems have hooked thorns and older stems have clusters of woody spines. Leaves are 4 – 11 cm long and 1.5 – 4 cm broad, simple, entire and deciduous in the dry season. Strongly scented flowers are white, cream or pinkish 2.5 – 5 cm diameter and numerous in panicles. The fruit is a rounded berry with numerous small seeds.
Distribution and Habitat: It is native to South America and introduced to China, India. It grows in an erect, woody shrub but with age it becomes a scrambling vine that sometimes reaches over ten meters in height.
Uses:
Young shoots and leaves can be cooked and eaten as greens and the fruits stewed, preserved with sugar or made into preserves. Due to their high mucilaginous content, Pereskia aculeata leaves are used as emollients. They are also used to heal wounds and reduce inflammation.
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