Stems may lie along the ground (procumbent), climb (scandent), or hang (pendent). Stems are often only 1.5 cm thick, producing areoal roots; 3 ribs; margins slightly undulating; white areoles; 1-3 spines 2-3 mm long, yellowish; several hairs on young growth, britle-like; green epidermis. Flowers are nocturnal and funnel-shaped, 32-38 cm long; pericarpel is ovoid or slightly globose, tubercles are large and flattened, with felt-like and spiny areoles subtended by small bracteoles; receptacle elongate; outer tepals long, green, triangular-acute; inner tepals 100 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, white, broader; stamens numerous inserted in two zones, yellow; style yellow, stigma lobes numerous, green. Fruit: ovoid, tuberculate, spiny, yellow (or sometimes red?), seeds black; interior edible, having a pleasant, mildly sweet flavor.
Cultivation
An easily cultivated, fast growing plant. Needs a compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 8ºC (46,5ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade, but best in full sunlight. Extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers in June to October. This plant may grow to a very large size.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylocereus_megalanthus
See Also: florists CA, gift baskets, China flowers
