The Rose.... Cactus?

On the day when I first chatted with the cat auntie, she pointed out a short shrub on the grass patch alongside the pavement. She said this was planted by her neighboor and it had many medical properties, even anti-cancerous ones!

The Rose Cactus, Pereskia bleo is its name, from the family cactus. Yup, although it doesn't look like one but it is a cactus. According to wiki, this genus is the only one having persistant non-succulent leaves.

Thorns extending out. You can noticed many leaf scars here, as many neighbors had pluck them out for consumption, according to cat auntie. The leaves can be eaten raw or taken as a concoction brewed from dried plant. It was also believed to have anti-tumour, anti-rheumatic, anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities. A study conducted showed that it may contain bioactive compound(s) to induce cell death of cancerous cells.

This was the reason that I posted this entry so late. Been waiting so long for it to flower! But sadly this is the best I can get. But now you know why its called rose cactus. =)

Updated 17 march~

Yeaaa! Finally saw a blooming flower of the cactus. My daily visits are not wasted :) Isnt it beautiful?

Updated 18 Mar~

Heres the fruit of the rose cactus. Kindly given by Samson, or aka Mantamola :) The flower is beautiful while the fruit looks cute ;p Mmm, seems like this plant is more common then I thought. Saw it again as a potted plant near NUS just now. But well, even the experts have to be sua ku some time before becoming who they are :)

Ty for Joe lai for the ID.

Ref: Methanolic extract of Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC. (Cactaceae) induces apoptosis in breast carcinoma, T47-D cell line. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 96 (2005) 287–294