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The vine-like epiphytic Hylocereus Pitaya producing cacti are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are also cultivated in Asian countries such as Indonesia specially in western Java, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and more recently Bangladesh.[1] 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.

Stenocereus queretaroensis pitaya prepared for eating

[edit] Varieties

Selling dragon fruit juice in Thailand

Stenocereus fruit (sour pitayas) are of more local importance, being commonly eaten in the arid regions of the Americas. They are more sour and refreshing, with juicier flesh and a stronger taste, and are relished by hikers[citation needed]. The common Sour Pitaya or pitaya agria (S. gummosus)[2] in the Sonoran Desert has been an important food source for Native Americans. The Seri people of northwestern Mexico still harvest the highly appreciated fruit,[3] and call the plant ziix is ccapxl – "thing whose fruit is sour". The fruit of related species, such as S. queretaroensis and Dagger Cactus (S. griseus),[4] are also locally important food. Somewhat confusingly, the Organ Pipe Cactus (S. thurberi) fruit (called ool by the Seris) is the pitahaya dulce ("sweet pitahaya") of its native lands, as dragon fruit are not grown there in numbers. It still has a more tart aroma than Hylocereus fruit, described as somewhat reminiscent of watermelon; it has some uses in folk medicine.

Fruits of some other columnar cacti (mainly Cereeae) are also called "pitayas" – for example those of the Peruvian Apple Cactus (Cereus repandus), which are very rare.

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