Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_harrisia_eriophora
Wild Yellow Dragon Apple Cactus
Harrisia eriophora
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About Wild Yellow Dragon Apple Cactus
A shrubby cactus with an erect lower trunk and spreading branches. Short spines near shoot tips do not overlap adjacent areoles; longer crowded spines occur near the base. Large elongated flowers have green tubes with broad green scales, sometimes red-tipped. Immature green fruits are bumpy; mature yellow fruits become smooth. Established wild occurrence warrants observations of occupied cover, reproductive plants and new recruits. These measurements can test persistence and spread. The reviewed accounts do not quantify an island-wide effect on Kauaʻi native vegetation.
Kauaʻi evidence
Generated media is not occurrence evidence. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Harrisia eriophora
- Common names
- wild yellow dragon apple cactus · fragrant prickly apple
- Other names
- Harrisia eriophora · wild yellow dragon apple cactus · fragrant prickly apple
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-07
- Evidence limits
- Island-level public occurrence only. Use the Cuban Harrisia eriophora concept; do not substitute Florida Harrisia fragrans. Preserve smooth yellow ripe fruit versus bumpy green immature fruit.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Not yet assessed
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- Shrub or subshrub; succulent subshrub
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Occupied area and vegetation cover; Mature plants and new recruits; Reproductive plants and fruiting frequency. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.
- Data gaps
- Current island extent and population trend · Measured local ecological effects
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- A shrubby cactus with an erect lower trunk and spreading branches. Short spines near shoot tips do not overlap adjacent areoles; longer crowded spines occur near the base. Large elongated flowers have green tubes with broad green scales, sometimes red-tipped. Immature green fruits are bumpy; mature yellow fruits become smooth. Established wild occurrence warrants observations of occupied cover, reproductive plants and new recruits. These measurements can test persistence and spread. The reviewed accounts do not quantify an island-wide effect on Kauaʻi native vegetation.