Leuenbergeria

Morphological Summary

Genus of primitive leafy cacti in the family Cactaceae (subfamily Leuenbergerioideae), segregated from genus Pereskia by Lodé in 2012. They are among the most phylogenetically basal cacti: they have true persistent leaves — unlike most cacti which have reduced or absent leaves — and thus represent an evolutionary stage close to the ancestor of modern cacti. Native to the Caribbean (Greater Antilles) and northern South America. Their flowers are large with coloured petals, and they produce edible fleshy fruits.