Contains 10 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
OPUNTIA Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754.
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TYPE: Opuntia vulgaris Miller (Cactus opuntia Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 2: 571. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opuntia abjecta | KEYS SPANISH LADY | Native Endemic Endangered-State | |
| Opuntia austrina | DEVIL'S-TONGUE | Native Endemic | |
| Opuntia cochenillifera | COCHINEAL CACTUS | Not Native UPL (NWPL) | |
| Opuntia drummondii | COCKSPUR PRICKLYPEAR | Native | |
| Opuntia ficus-indica | TUNA CACTUS | Not Native | |
| Opuntia leucotricha | ARBORESCENT PRICKLYPEAR | Not Native | |
| Opuntia mesacantha subsp. lata | PRICKLYPEAR | Native | |
| Opuntia mesacantha subsp. mesacantha | PRICKLYPEAR | Native | |
| Opuntia ochrocentra | BULLSUCKERS | Native Endemic | |
| Opuntia stricta | ERECT PRICKLYPEAR; SHELL-MOUND PRICKLYPEAR | Native Threatened-State UPL (NWPL) |
[Family identification key]
1. Spines absent; inner petaloid tepals red and appressed; stamens and style much exserted beyond the tepals
1. Spines present or absent; inner petaloid tepals yellow (rarely reddish) and spreading; stamens and style not exserted beyond the tepals
2
2. Surface of cladodes (stem segments) pubescent
2. Surface of cladodes (stem segments) glabrous
3
3. Mature cladodes mostly (25)30-60 cm long, often with more than 15 areoles per face (not counting areoles along the margin), often spineless, with inconspicuous glochids to 2 mm long
3. Mature cladodes mostly <25 cm long, with fewer than 15 areoles per face (not counting areoles along the margin), with or without spines, usually with conspicuous glochids to 4 mm long
4
4. Distal cladodes with 1-2 areoles per diagonal row per face, narrowly ovate, elliptic, to linear, mostly 1-2.5 cm wide, subcylindric to slightly flattened, loosely attached and readily disarticulating; spines strongly barbed apically
4. Distal cladodes with 2-4 areoles per diagonal row per face, obovate to elliptic, mostly 2.5-16 cm wide, flattened, firmly attached ro readily disarticulating; spines barbed apically or not
5
5. Spines disposed from areoles in a stellate pattern or in different planes; radial spines numerous or absent; young spines yellow to dark yellow
6
5. Spines disposed from areoles in the same plane or porrect; radial spines 0-1; young spines red, brown, whitish, or dark yellow
7
6. Mature spines gray (young spines yellow to dark yellow); stem segments entire to slightly undulate
6. Mature spines yellow to dark yellow; stem segments often with a scalloped or undulate margin
7. Plants forming clumps; cladodes 3.2–13.5 cm long, 2.4–6.7 cm wide, and 6.5–15.8 mm thick, easily disarticulating; caducous leaves 3.5–7.0 mm long; spines strongly retrorsely barbed to the touch; fruits 2.1-3.0 cm long; seeds 3.1–3.6 mm long
7. Plants forming mats, clumps, or erect shrubs; cladodes 3.1–29.5 long, 2–9.5 cm wide, and 3.6–19.9 mm thick, usually not easily disarticulating (sometimes easily disarticulating in summer months in O. mesacantha); caducous leaves 4.8-13.8 mm long; spines strongly barbed or not; fruits 2.1-5.0 cm long; seeds 3.9-5.7 mm long
8
8. Erect shrubs (developing a definite erect trunk), 0.3–2 m tall, the stems strongly ascending or erect; cladodes obovate to elliptic, rarely completely round, often relatively strongly narrowed and acute at the base, sometimes slightly glaucous, never cross wrinkling unless under severe drought stress, 6.5–29.5 cm long, 3.7–9.5 cm wide, 6.4–10.9 mm thick; pericarpel often <2 times as long as wide; seeds 3.9–4.7 mm long
8. Small shrubs in clumps or mats (trunk not evident or poorly formed), 0.1–0.5 m tall, the stems weakly ascending, decumbent or trailing; cladodes mostly obovate, rotund, or elliptical, often relatively broadly rounded at the base, not glaucous, often cross-wrinkling during the winter, 3.1–17.7 long, 2-9 cm wide, 3.6–19.9 mm thick; pericarpel often >2 times as long as wide; seeds 4.7–5.9 mm long
9
9. Cladodes typically scalloped-margined, elliptical or rotund; spines delicate, 0.7–0.9 mm in diameter; seeds with the funicular envelope smooth, only moderate, if any, protrusion of the cotyledons and hypocotyl
9. Cladodes typically smooth-margined, obovate or rotund; spines robust, 0.95–1.3 mm in diameter; seeds with the funicular envelope bumby, cotyledons and hypocotyl noticeably protruding