The origin of the pitahaya (also called dragon fruit) is not really traceable. Its botanical name, Hylocereus refers to both its habitat (hulos means forest in Greek) and the way in which it resists droughts (the wax or cereus covering the leaves). Pitahaya can withstand temperatures of 38-40 ºc but nevertheless requires 60-130 cm annual rainfall. The plant is a member of the cactus family. The fruits are oval shaped and contain pulp with a scattering of black seeds. When ripe, the fruit peels as easily as a banana and tastes like a mixture of melon and kiwi.