STRAWBERRY PEAR

the fruit of Cereus Triangularius, of the Torch Cactus genus. It is bright red in color and somewhat pear-shaped, the pulp slightly acid and suggesting the strawberry in flavor. In addition to its consumption fresh, it is an important ingredient of the Pepper-Pot of the West Indies.

The "Torch" cacti derive the title from their long, tubular flowers, which are often of striking beauty. The plants themselves vary greatly in type, from some which are of the climbing order, to the Cereus Giganteus, which frequently consists of a single, straight, tall trunk one to two feet in diameter and from fifty to sixty feet high. The fruit of the Giganteus, gathered from the bigger plants by means of long poles, is oval in form and two or three inches in length, with green outer skin and crimson pulp. It is highly esteemed both raw and preserved. The Cereus Pectinatus is a variety with edible stems, which are cooked as a vegetable after removing the spines.