Blooming Dragon Fruit

Oil on Canvas 4x20 inches

This was Daily Painting #30

Before becoming a fruit, it is a huge beautiful white flower that folds up and the long green leaves are part of the flower. This one is not quiet finished becoming a fruit.

Dragon Fruit are native to Central and South America where they are known as pitaya or pitahaya. They are one of the most widely distributed members of the cactaceae family, and are now found on six continents.

According to the legend the fruit was created thousands of years ago by fire breathing dragons. During a battle when the dragon would breathe fire the last thing to come out would be the fruit. After the dragon is slain the fruit is collected and presented to the Emperor as a coveted treasure and indication of victory. The soldiers would then butcher the dragon and eat the flesh. It was believed that those who feasted on the flesh would be endowed with the strength and ferocity of the dragon and that they too would be coveted by the Emperor.