What plant is the dragon fruit the fruit of? Latest answer
Dragon fruit is a perennial climbing succulent plant of the genus Hylocereus in the cactus family, also known as red dragon fruit, green dragon fruit, fairy honey fruit, jade dragon fruit, etc. It originated in Central America in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Cuba, Colombia and other places, and was later introduced to Vietnam, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries and China's Taiwan province. It is also cultivated in Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou and other provinces and regions of mainland China.
The dragon fruit plant has no main root; its lateral roots are distributed in large numbers in the shallow topsoil, and it also has many aerial roots that allow it to climb and grow. The stems are dark green and stout, up to 7 m long and 10-12 cm thick, with 3 ribs. The ribs are flat with wavy edges, and climbing roots grow at the stem nodes, allowing it to attach to other plants as it grows. There are usually 3 ribs, and small spines are present in the depressions of each stem segment. Because it has long grown in tropical desert areas, its leaves have degenerated, and the function of photosynthesis is carried out by the stems. Inside the stem are large numbers of thin-walled cells full of viscous liquid, which help it absorb as much water as possible during the rainy season.
The buds of dragon fruit contain relatively many compound buds and mixed bud primordia, which can develop into leaf buds or flower buds. In the early stage of flower bud development, under suitable temperature conditions, they can transform into leaf buds. The vigorously growing tissue at the tips of the branches can also produce flower buds under appropriate conditions. The flowers are white, with a huge inferior ovary, and the flower is about 30 cm long, hence it is also called "Overlord Flower." The calyx tube is about 3 cm wide, with green (sometimes light purple) lobes and scales 3-8 cm long. The petals are broad, pure white, upright, oblanceolate, and entire. The stamens are numerous and slender, as many as 700-960, equal in length to the style or shorter. The anthers are cream-yellow, and the filaments are white. The style is thick, 0.7-0.8 cm, and cream-yellow. The stigma lobes of the pistil number as many as 24.
The fruit of dragon fruit is oblong or ovate, with a red skin, fleshy, and ovate scales with acute tips. The fruit is 10-12 cm long, and the peel is thick and waxy. The flesh is white or red, and contains nearly ten thousand fragrant sesame-like seeds, which is why it is called "sesame fruit." It is named for its appearance, which looks like an angry red fireball, while the flesh inside is like sweet cream but filled with small black seeds. The texture is mild and the flavor is delicate and fragrant.
Dragon fruit is a tropical and subtropical fruit. It likes light and tolerates shade, tolerates heat and drought, likes fertilizer and tolerates poor soil. It grows rapidly in a warm, humid environment with sufficient light. When cultivated in the open field in spring and summer, it should be watered more to keep its root system in a vigorous growth state. During continuous rainy weather, drainage should be carried out promptly to avoid infection by pathogens that causes the stem flesh to rot. Its stems can also grow attached to rocks, and the plant has extremely strong wind resistance; as long as the support is firm, it can resist typhoons. It can tolerate low temperatures of 0°C and high temperatures of 40°C, and the optimum temperature for growth is 25-35°C. It can adapt to many kinds of soil, but neutral soil and slightly acidic soil rich in humus and with good water and fertilizer retention are best.
Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit, and it is best to eat it soon after buying it. It is not only sweet and fragrant, but also has high nutritional value, combining the advantages of fruit, flower buds, vegetables, and medicine. Its nutritional components include protein, dietary fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and so on. It is rich in flesh fiber and abundant in carotene, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B12, C, and so on. The seeds are even richer in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, as well as various enzymes, albumin, fiber, and high concentrations of the natural pigment anthocyanin. The flowers, stems, and tender shoots also have various effects similar to those of its close relative aloe.