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Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) B.D.Parfitt

Grizzlybear pricklypear (en)

Variety

Angiosperms > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Opuntia > Opuntia polyacantha

Characteristics

Stem segments elliptic to obovate, (7-)10-20 × 5-10 cm; areoles 8-14 per diagonal row across midstem segment, 12-17 mm apart. Spines 1-18 per areole, in essentially all areoles, grading in size and orientation, yellow to dark brown, turning gray, pink-gray, or gray-brown, the longest spreading and curling in all directions especially on proximal stem segments, usually ascending and ± straight near stem segment apex, deflexed to reflexed near base, (35-)40-90(-185) mm, spines of older stem segments more numerous, less straight, and reflexed. Fruits stout; areoles 20-33, each bearing 7-13 spines, 8-20 mm. 2n = 44.
More
A cactus which forms clumps. It has joints which are bluish-green and oblong. They are 5-15 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. The spine spots are close and have bristles and spines. The spines can be 5 cm long. It flowers during the day. The flowers are about 6 cm across. They are usually red.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 2.0
Mature height (meter) 0.5
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color -
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

It needs a sunny site. It needs a temperature above 7°C.
Light 7-9
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture 3-6
Soil acidity 3-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 7-10

Usage

Uses gum oil
Edible fruits leaves seeds
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Distribution

Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea world distribution map, present in Mexico and United States of America

Identifiers

LSID -
WFO ID wfo-0001266537
COL ID 5QD99
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Opuntia erinacea Opuntia ursina Opuntia diploursina Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea Opuntia erinacea var. ursina Opuntia hystricina var. ursina Opuntia erinacea var. paucispina Opuntia hystricina var. bensonii Opuntia polyacantha subsp. erinacea
WorldFloraDB 2024