Opuntia atrispina
Opuntia atrispina is on the right
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. atrispina
Binomial name
Opuntia atrispina
Griffiths

Opuntia atrispina is a cactus species in the genus Opuntia. It has limited distribution in the United States. In Texas it can be found from near Uvalde to Del Rio/Langtry—a small strip of area just 50 miles long.

Description

The epithet of this species means "black-spined", denoting the fact that its spines are dark-brown to black at least in the lower part.[2]

The flowers on these small shrubs are special because they open pale yellow (sometimes almost white) and darken with age to rose. Thus, the plants can be adorned with flowers of multiple colors: cream, yellow, salmon, and rose. Newly opened flowers can even have a hint of green in the middle. The spines too are special because they are yellowish at the tips but dark brown at the bases.[3]

References

  1. Terry, M.; Heil, K. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Opuntia atrispina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152871A121614199. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152871A121614199.en. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. "Opuntia atrispina, Texas prickly pear cactus". Opuntia Web. 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  3. "Annual Report Missouri Botanical Garden 21: 172, 1910" (PDF). Opuntia Web.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.