Opuntia spinulifera Salm-dyck

Species

Angiosperms > Caryophyllales > Cactaceae > Opuntia

Characteristics

Much-branched, forming large dense clumps up to 3 m tall (not arborescent). Joints flattened, orbicular, 20-40 cm in diam., glaucous-green, densely beset with areoles in a regular sub-spiral arrangment, areoles small, c. 4 mm in diam., sunken, with numerous glochidia and 3-6 spines of varying lengths mostly pointing downwards, the longest c. 2 cm long, the marginal spine clusters more strongly developed. Flowers with a cup-shaped hypanthium, 2.5 cm long wide, profusely covered by areoles containing bristles around the mouth; petaloid segments yellow, up to 4 cm long. Fruit not seen.
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Spiny, much-branched, succulent shrub, ± 3 m high, not arborescent. Cladodes flattened, orbicular, 200-400 mm in diam., glaucous-green; areoles dense, sub-spirally arranged, with 3-6 spines, the longest ± 20 mm long. Flowers yellow. Flowering time Nov., Dec. Fruit small berries, ± 25 mm long.
A cactus.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 3.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
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Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.
Light -
Soil humidity -
Soil texture -
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 8-11

Usage

Uses food
Edible fruits
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
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Images

Opuntia spinulifera unspecified picture

Distribution

Opuntia spinulifera world distribution map, present in Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa

Identifiers

LSID -
WFO ID wfo-0001287231
COL ID 6T3PW
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Opuntia oligacantha Opuntia candelabriformis Opuntia spinulifera Opuntia heliabravoana Opuntia candelabriformis var. rigidior