What kind of fruit is the latest dragon fruit?

Pitaya is a perennial climbing succulent plant belonging to Cactaceae. It is also called red dragon fruit, green dragon fruit, fairy honey fruit, jade dragon fruit, etc. It originated in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Cuba, Colombia and other places in Central America. Later, it was introduced into Vietnam, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan Province of China. Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou and other provinces of the mainland of China are also cultivated.

Pitaya plant has no taproot, lateral roots are distributed in shallow soil layer, and there are many aerial roots, which can climb growth. Rootstock dark green, stout, up to 7 meters long, thick 10~12 cm, with 3 ribs. Flat ribs, wavy edges, climbing roots grow at stem nodes, can climb other plants to grow, ribs are mostly 3, each stem node depression has small thorns. Due to its long-term growth in tropical desert areas, its leaves have degenerated and its photosynthetic function is undertaken by the stem. Inside the stem are numerous parenchyma cells saturated with viscous liquid, which helps absorb as much water as possible during the rainy season.

There are many multiple buds and mixed bud primordia in the buds of pitaya, which can be sprouted into leaf buds and flower buds. At the early stage of flower bud development, under suitable temperature conditions, it can transform into leaf bud. And vigorous growth of the top of the branch tissue, but also under appropriate conditions, flower buds. White, huge ovary inferior, flowers about 30 cm long, it is also known as the overlord flower. Calyx tubular, ca. 3 cm wide, lobes greenish (sometimes lilac), with scales 3 - 8 cm long. Petals broad, pure white, erect, oblanceolate, entire. Stamens are numerous and slender, up to 700 - 960, as long as or shorter than styles. Anthers creamy yellow, filaments white. Style thick, 0.7 - 0.8 cm, creamy yellow. Pistil stigma lobes up to 24.

The fruit of pitaya is oblong or ovoid, with red epidermis, fleshy, ovate and sharp scales at the top, fruit length of 10~12 cm, thick pericarp, waxy. The flesh is white or red, and there are nearly ten thousand sesame seeds with fragrance, so it is called sesame fruit. It got its name because it looked like an angry red fireball. The flesh inside was like sweet cream, but it was full of small black seeds. The texture was mild and the taste was fragrant.

Pitaya is a tropical and subtropical fruit. It likes light and shade, heat and drought resistance, fertilizer and barren. It grows rapidly in warm and humid environment with sufficient light. In spring and summer, it should be watered more to keep its roots growing vigorously. In rainy weather, it should be drained in time to avoid infection and rot of stem meat. Its stems can also grow on rocks, and the plants are extremely resistant to wind. As long as the support is firm, they can resist typhoons. The optimum temperature for growth is 25~35℃. It can adapt to a variety of soils, but it is better to contain more humus, neutral soil and weak acid soil with water and fertilizer conservation.

Pitaya is a tropical fruit, it is best to buy and eat now, not only sweet taste, but also has a high nutritional value, set in fruit, buds, vegetables, medical advantages in one. Nutrients include protein, dietary fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium and so on. Rich in pulp fiber, rich in carotene, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B12, C, etc., the fruit core is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and other minerals and various enzymes, albumin, fiber and high concentration of natural pigment anthocyanin, flowers, stems and buds are more like its relatives Aloe Vera various effects.