Pitahaya

Also spelled "pitaya". One variety grown in the American tropics on a climbing cactus is an egg shaped, bright pink or red-skinned fruit, which measures more than 3 inches long. It has large leaf-like scales and a juicy white flesh, which is filled with several little seeds. Another variety comes from a Mexican wild plant, which produces round fruit that is 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The fruit's skin is covered with small clusters of spines, which reveal a red fully ripe fruit when brushed off. Its flesh is dark red to purple with a mild sweet flavor. Pithaya fruit is used in salads, beverages, sherbets and preserves.