A pitaya (pronounced /pɨˈtaɪ.ə/) or pitahaya (English pronunciation: /ˌpɪtəˈhaɪ.ə/) is the fruit of several cactusspecies, most importantly of the genus Hylocereus ( sweet pitayas). These fruits are commonly known as dragon fruit – cf. Chinese huǒ lóng guǒ 火龍果/火龙果 "fire dragon fruit" and lóng zhū guǒ "dragon pearl fruit", Vietnamese thanh long (sweet dragon), Indonesian and Malaysian buah naga "dragon fruit", Lao: mark mang gohn (ໝາກມັງກອນ) "dragon fruit". Other vernacular names are strawberry pear or nanettikafruit.
If not otherwise stated, this article's content refers specifically to the pitayas of Hylocereus species, or "dragon fruit".
Distribution
The vine-like epiphytic pitaya-producing cacti of the genus Hylocereus are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are also cultivated in Asian countries such as Indonesia (especially in western Java), Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and more recently Bangladesh. They are also found in Okinawa, Hawaii, Israel, northern Australia and southern China.
Hylocereus blooms only at night; the large white fragrant flowers of the typical cactusflower shape are among those called "moonflower" or "Queen of the Night". Sweet pitayas have a creamy pulp and a delicate aroma. It is also grown as an Ornamental plant, used in gardens as a flowering vine, and a house plant indoors.
Credits :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya
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