Opuntia tehuacana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Opuntieae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. tehuacana
Binomial name
Opuntia tehuacana
S.Arias & U.Guzmán
Synonyms
  • Opuntia olmeca Pérez Crisanto, J.Reyes & F.Brachet

Opuntia tehuacana, commonly known as the Tehuacán prickly pear, is a species of prickly pear cactus in the family Cactaceae. It was described by Salvador Arias Montez and Susana Gama López in 1997, who were both Mexican botanists. The species was named for the town of Tehuacán, Mexico, which is near the center of the species range.

Description

Opuntia tehuacana on average reaches 0.40–1.50 m (1.31–4.92 feet) high, trunk 35 cm (13.77 inches) in diameter, and grey scaly bark, with profound yellow tones. Areoles are 0.2–0.5 cm (0.07–0.19 inches) long, with yellow glochids. Spines are curved, 1–5.8 cm (0.39–2.28 inches) long, and grey, sometimes yellow. Flowers are 6–7.2 cm (2.36–2.83 inches) long, usually yellow, but color can differ between red, yellow, and orange. Yellowish-green fruits, that are obovate. Medium-sized pads, with scattered spines.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Opuntia tehuacana is endemic to Mexico, specifically Puebla and Oaxaca, where it grows primarily in the dry shrub-land zone, but is also seen growing in the desert zone too. It has a solid range, with no known fragmented populations.[2]

Classification and conservation

The species merged with a similar taxon, Opuntia olmeca, which was thought to have been its own species until further research showed that they were the same genetic organism.[1]

Opuntia tehuacana is currently listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List, for there are not many severe threats to its natural range.[3]

Uses

There are no current, common uses for Opuntia tehuacana, although it may be used locally as a vegetable in Mexican cuisine or as an ornamental cactus.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Martínez-González, César Ramiro (January 8, 2021). "Opuntia tehuacana and O. olmeca (Cactaceae, Opuntioideae) are to be considered as ascribed to a single species: morphological and molecular evidences". Phytotaxa. 479 (2): 160–168 – via ResearchGate.
  2. ↑ "Opuntia tehuacana S.Arias & U.Guzmán | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  3. ↑ IUCN (2009-04-29). "Opuntia tehuacana: Arias, S. & Zavala-Hurtado, A.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T152761A121609200". doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2017-3.rlts.t152761a121609200.en. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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