Article by Ferguson and Shaw, Xerophila, 2019
ISSN 2285 – 3987 the passionforcactiandothersucculents 25 August 2019 Tucson Area summary summary Opuntia The Pricklypears
Dave Ferguson Joe Shaw Albuquerque, NM Germantown, MD [email protected] [email protected]
hese are Opuntia species that grow to varied growing conditions. This makes quan- naturally within the greater Tucson, tifying their vegetative traits rather a slippery slope, Arizona area. They can be found because the same plant can look totally different within 30 miles of the city limits. when growing in different locations. Identification Most of these species are unstudied of these plants in the field is more easily done when or little studied. A number were de- whole populations of individuals are surveyed. scribed about 100 years ago and More information on these Opuntia species is then little noticed since then. Some available at Opuntia Web. of the most often used English common names are It is a common belief that hybridization is ram- Tgiven here, but most species will also have Spanish pant in the group and that many of the confusing common names that it has proven difficult to sort “types” are hybrids. However, when one spends to individual species. time learning them in the field, it becomes appa- Opuntias are plastic in morphology, with vege- rent that nearly all plants belong to well-defined
summary tative characteristics that can be alter in response populations and that real hybrids are infrequent.
Tucson Area Opuntia 37 - XEROPHILIA • Volume VIII, No. 1 (25), August 2019 | ISSN 2285-3987 Native Species in alphabetical order
Opuntia arizonica Griffiths, Arizona Pricklypear, Valencia Pricklypear summary summary
Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden 29: more spiny, generally with several spines per 93-94, pl.2 and 10, 1909. areole in nearly all areoles. It is very abundant Type locality: near Kirkland, Arizona in the Tucson area, particularly on the lower This species is best described as a somewhat outwash slopes of the mountains. It is abundant smaller, low spreading version of O. engelmannii. along the loop drive in the east unit of the As compared to O. engelmannii, it is also usually Saguaro National Park. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 3838 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia basilaris Engelmann and Bigelow, Beavertail Cactus summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy 3: typical variety basilaris. 298, 1857. This distinctive spineless species with pink to Type locality: Cactus Pass, east of Kingman, magenta flowers is found in the desert, mostly Arizona in the mountains, mostly well westward from A number of varieties have been named, the Tucson area, but plants have been recorded but native Tucson area plants are referred to from nearby. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 3939 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia blakeana Rose, Blake Pricklypear summary summary
Contributions from the U.S. National spines relatively few, short, and usually brown. Herbarium 12: 402, 1909. Stem color is often dark and sometimes purplish Type locality: Tumamoc Hill, Tucson, Arizona or bluish. This taxon is related to O. phaeacantha This species grows as low spreading plants and O. camanchica, but recognizably distinct. with small relatively narrow pads that are often Apparently, it only grows in the Santa Cruz a bit squared off at the tip. Areoles are small, basin of Arizona. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4040 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia camanchica Engelmann and Bigelow, Comanche Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy of tend to be wide, thickish, with areoles widely Arts and Sciences 3: 293, 1856/1857. spaced, and spines stout. Spines are often Type locality: near Cuervo, New Mexico dark at least at the base but may be any color Synonyms: O. phaeacantha var. brunnea from white or pale yellow to dark red, dark Engelmann 1856; O. chihuahuensis Rose 1909. purple, brown, or black. Flowers are yellow, O. camanchaca is a common, widespread, often orange or red in the center, with stigmas variable species found widely in the usually pale. Fruit is smallish and ovoid. Southwest and northern Mexico. It is often This species is found almost everywhere identified asO. phaeacantha var. major, which below the mountains that isn’t too dry, from is a distinctly different and larger plant (i.e., western Texas to southern California, and O. dulcis). It is similar to O. phaeacantha, also from southern Nevada, Utah, and Colorado being a low-spreading smallish plant. Pads south well into northern Mexico. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4141 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia cañada Griffiths, Canyon Pricklypear summary summary
Annual report Missouri Botanical Garden while they are strongly so in O. orbiculata, but 20: 90, 1909. this needs verified. This species seems to be Type locality: Florida Canyon., Santa Rita in mountain areas and sometimes the valleys Mountains, Arizona between, only in south-central Arizona and Synonyms: ?O. flavescens Peebles 1937. northern Sonora. O. cañada is not as cold hardy This species is closely related to and similar as O. orbiculata. O. flavescens from near Sells to O. orbiculata but with pads usually narrower, seems to be a synonym, as significant differences spines fewer, and with fruit often pale in color haven’t been noticed, except fruits are darker (not always). Seedlings are apparently not hairy, than those from the Santa Rita Mountain plants. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4242 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia chlorotica Engelmann and Bigelow
O. chlorotica var. chlorotica, Pancake Cactus / Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy of and spineless individuals. Flowers on all are Arts and Sciences 3: 291, 1856. bright yellow, only rarely with reddish centers. Type locality: Bill Williams Mountain, Ari- The Mexican O. setispina Engelmann, with zona grayish pads and usually white spines, is also a This is a widespread bushy medium-sized member of this group, and is the oldest name tree-like species (though it can be relatively (Engelmann, 1850). Our U.S. varieties will likely small or in exceptional cases can reach more eventually be treated as varieties under this than 8-ft/2,5m tall) of the southwestern US name. and northern Mexico. It takes on several • var. chlorotica, Pancake Cactus / Pricklypear appearances, mostly based on differing Synonyms: O. palmeri Engelmann ex Coulter coloration and size. The plants have been 1896. divided by some into different species, but This is the northern variety, with yellow these blend where-ever they meet and behave spines and green pads. Fruits are large and as varieties. All varieties produce both spiny usually bright red. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4343 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia chlorotica Engelmann and Bigelow
O. chlorotica var. gosseliniana (Weber) Ferguson summary summary
Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 60: 159, even smaller. It is found in the Sonoran Desert 1988. and in tropical deciduous scrub, mostly further Original description: O. gosseliniana Weber, west or south than var. santa-rita. It occurs in the Bull. Soc. Acclim. France 49: 83, 1902. United Sates, but only in a limited area, and only Type locality: coast of Sonora, Mexico. some wild plants to the south and southwest This is basically a petit version of var. santa- of the Tucson area approach this variety. The rita in which the spines are even more slender, garden cultivars named ‘Tubac’ and ‘Pinta Rita’ sometimes almost hair-like, and fruits average seem closer to this variety than to var. santa-rita. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4444 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia chlorotica Engelmann and Bigelow
O. chlorotica var. santa-rita Griffiths and Hare, Purple Pricklypear summary summary
New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station the same as var. chlorotica and may be the Bulletin 60: 64, 1906. same color, but usually pads tend to bluish or Type locality: Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona purplish. Synonyms: O. shreveana C.Z. Nelson 1915 Spines (if present) are usually more slender, This taxon is found in the western Sonoran often longer, and more often reddish or Desert in Arizona, Sonora, and a little bit in brownish in color. Fruits are smaller and more Chihuahua and New Mexico. It is basically purplish or pinkish. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4545 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia confusa Griffiths, Confusing Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the Biological Society of them. Other pads will have only the small Washington 27(6): 28, 1914. spines and one or two whitish spines that point Type locality: Tumamoc Hill, Tucson, Arizona almost straight down. There are sometimes This is a common species in the Tucson area, intermediate conditions. Glochids are often very and is known only from south-central Arizona prominent and usually dark reddish in color. into adjacent Sonora, and also from a small The flowers are showy, opening yellow with fine population near Las Cruces in New Mexico. It orange veining, deepening in color as they age is a relatively low bushy species with rounded until orange or nearly red. When yellow first- pads that tend to be grayish in color, with spines day flowers are mixed with older varied-colored appearing black and white (actually deep brown flowers, the show can be incredible. and cream). The spines are produced in two The name comes from the fact that Joseph arrangements, often on the same plant. Some Nelson Rose confused David Griffiths’ name pads will have three or more long stout angular “arizonica” for Tumamoc Hill plants that were spines radiating from the areoles, typically with of the wrong species, ones that Griffiths would some radiating small whitish spines around later name as O. confusa. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4646 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia discata Griffiths, Disk Pricklypear; Bird-foot Pricklypear summary summary
Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden 19: may change to red before they 266, 1908. close. Fruits are rounded, often Type locality: Florida Canyon., Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona. a bit lumpy, dark, and sweet. This is a large and bushy, rigidly woody plant with wide The plant is usually smaller rounded often bluish, and often “wavy” pads that have pale than similar species such as O. spines that are up to roughly an inch long. Spines are stout engelmannii and O. orbiculata, and radiate out in a distinctive “bird’s-foot” pattern. Spines but the pads are often larger. are fairly erect and do not curve back towards the pad. This is one of the species with Flowers are bright yellow with deep green stigmas, but they hairy seedlings. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4747 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia dulcis Engelmann, Sweet Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy of It has spines, flowers, and fruits more like Arts and Sciences 3: 291, 1856. O. phaeacantha, but the flowers and fruits Type locality: near Presidio, Texas. are larger. The areoles are small with neatly Synonyms: O. eocarpa Griffiths 1916; O. and tightly arranged glochids. On new pads, expansa Griffiths 1916 glochids typically occur in a tight central clump A relatively large bushy species (sometimes and a surrounding tight ring of different length. lower and spreading) with large pads for the Spines tend to be whitish with brownish bases size of the plant. It is often confused with but can be dark or yellowish. This is a common immature specimens of O. engelmannii. species in the Tucson area. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4848 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann
O. engelmannii var. engelmannii Engelmann Pricklypear summary summary
Boston Journal of Natural History 6(2): 207, large size. Mature plants are upright and 1-2.5 1850. m tall and typically form a dense plant. Plants Type locality: between El Paso, Texas and may be taller than wide, however some plants Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. spread and are much wider than tall. It usually Synonyms: O. recurvospina Griffiths 1916; O.? has obovate pads that have large areoles and a procumens Engelmann and Bigelow 1856 [this variable number of stout, flattened, spreading could be an older name for O. arizonica instead, spines, usually with at least one erect main but type specimens and plants observed at the spine. Some plants may be quite spiny and type locality – Aztec Pass – favor the specific others nearly spineless. Spines are usually epithet, engelmannii]. Many other names have white to yellowish or buff with darker bases. been referred to this species that don’t belong. However, some plants may have entirely dark A name widely misapplied to nearly any spines. The fruit is large ovoid, dark, juicy and large, medium-large, or bushy Opuntia of sweet. Flowers bright yellow with faint orange the U.S.A or northern Mexico. Other species veining (sometimes the flowers turn orange in are more abundant, but this one has a wide age). Stigmas are green. Seedlings are hairy—a distribution and is easily observed due to its distinctive feature of some species. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 4949 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann
O. engelmannii var. flavispina (L.D.Benson) B.D.Parfitt & Pinkava Yellow-spine Pricklypear summary summary
Madrono 35(4): 348, 1988 [1989]. look more yellowish because of the yellow Type locality: Alamo Canyon, Ajo Mountains, spines. Arizona. The spines are yellowish to bright yellow, Alternatively treated as O. phaeacantha var. sometimes dark at the base, long, sometimes flavispina. The status as a full species is not twisting, usually with most areoles having one formally published. However, it is distinct, erect or somewhat deflexed spine distinctly and we consider it to be a species. It is a longer than the rest. The flowers are quite moderately large, spreading, bushy plant. showy bright yellow. Hairy seedlings have not The pads are often yellowish-green and may been seen, but lack of this trait is not verified. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5050 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia gilvescens Griffiths, Bajada Pricklypear summary summary
Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical in most of the other similar native species, with Garden 20: 87, 1909 few relatively slender short spines. Spines are Type locality: near Florida Canyon, Santa Rita generally 2-3 cm long and typically some shade Mountains, Arizona. of white to brownish or gray in color. Perhaps there are more than one species The ovaries and fruit have more areoles than or varieties included here, because there is average (to match the pads). The flowers are variation over its large range, but the plants are large and often a bit ruffled, usually with pale similar overall. These are low, spreading, bushy green stigmas and often just a touch of brassy plants, sometimes up to waste high, but more orange in the center. often half that, with relatively large pads that This is a common widespread species that may turn purplish or brownish-purple when is always called something else. Seedlings are stressed. Small areoles are closer together than not hairy. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5151 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia laevis Coulter, Spineless Pricklypear, Glossy Pricklypear, Smooth Pricklypear, Tulip Pricklypear summary summary
Contributions from the U. S. National However, the pads of O. cañada are wider Herbarium 3: 419, 1896. and the fruit is rounder. Usually O. cañada is Type locality: Canyons, Santa Catalina spiny. Seeds of O. laevis are generally larger. Mountains, Arizona. Seedlings are not hairy, whereas those of O. A distinctive nearly spineless species with cañada may be hairy (?). mostly narrow, generally spineless pads, and O. laevis often grows on rock outcroppings, longish, narrow fruit. It is known only from canyon walls, or in the rubble at their base. mountains of southern Arizona and northern People seem to like to give this cactus common Sonora. This taxon can be confused with O. names, there are numerous different ones cañada. The two are and often found together. published.3 summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5252 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia lubrica Griffiths, Smooth Pricklypear summary summary
Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical flowers are larger. The epidermis is smooth Garden 21: 169, 1910. and fairly shiny, and the glochids are mostly Type locality: near Alonso, San Luis Potosi. yellow to orange or rusty red, instead of white Synonyms: ?O. × andersonii H.M. Hernández, to dark reddish brown or black of O. rufida. Hinostrosa and Bárcenas 2003 (This name The species was described from northeastern seems to belong to a redescription of O. Mexico, where it could also be derived from lubrica.). O. microdasys hybridizing with other species There is an interesting puzzle here. Is this (perhaps O. cacanapa?). It is unclear whether taxon native to the Tucson area or not? It is Mexican and Arizona populations are the same, highly variable here (pads varying from green to but they are quite similar. Mexican plants are purple), but it does grow wild over a fairly large bright green and sometimes a bit yellowish. area. Could it be a hybrid of O. microdasys with Some plants have a few thin yellowish spines. other native species? It is much like O. rufida Both Mexican and native plants are grown in in appearance, but larger on average, and the gardens in the Tucson area. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5353 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia macrocentra Engelmann, Black-spine Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy of that are often even blacker. The two-tone Arts and Sciences 3: 292, 1856 [1857]. yellow and red flowers average more intense in Type locality: El Paso, Texas. coloring. It occurs mostly north of Mexico from Synonyms: O. violacea (Engelmann) B.D. West Texas and New Mexico to southeastern Jackson 1895 Arizona. A majority of similar garden plants This species can sometimes be difficult to are O. azurea. The name “Opuntia violacea” differentiate from most varieties of O. azurea is commonly applied to almost any purple- (not found in the Tucson area), but generally padded pricklypear, but is properly considered the pads have more areoles and thicker spines only a synonym of this species. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5454 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia orbiculata Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiffer, Round-pad Pricklypear summary summary
Enumeratio diagnostica cactearum hucusque pads (only occasionally wavy) that may be cognitarum 156, 1837. dark, bluish or sometimes yellowish green. Type locality: unknown; incorrectly cited Areoles are small except on spiniest plants, as “Chile”; original plants of a type found in with glochids usually short and neat on younger southwestern North America; perhaps from pads. Spines are relatively slender and relatively northern Mexico. short (usually not much over 1 inch) and one or Synonyms: ? O. crinifera Salm-Dyck 1837; ? few (or none) per areole. Spine color varies, but O. crinifera lanigera Pfeiffer 1837; ? O. senilis they are typically yellowish or whitish, often with J. Parmenteer ex Pfeiffer; ? O. cantabrigiensis darker bases. Glochids are usually dark. This Lynch 1903 [a confused and apparently widely is confused with O. engelmannii in Arizona and misapplied name]; O. dillei Griffiths 1909 New Mexico and with O. lindheimeri in Texas. This species is common and widespread in It ranges from the greater Dallas area to the northern Mexico and the southwestern US. This mountains of southern California and Nevada. is a large bushy species with mostly rounded This is one of the species with hairy seedlings. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5555 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia phaeacantha Engelmann, Brown-spine Pricklypear summary summary
Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts winter as some of the even smaller northern and Science n.s. 4(1): 51, 1849. species, but can become limp and flop over on Type locality: near Rio Grande, west of Santa its sides in very cold temperatures. Areoles are Fe, New Mexico. small and moderately far apart on obovate or Synonyms: O. phaeacantha var. nigricans round pads that are often dull green. Spines Engelmann 1856; O. phaeacantha var. piercei vary tremendously in color, but pale tips with Fosberg 1934. Many other names have been brownish bases are normal. referred to this species that don’t belong. Flowers vary a lot in color too, but yellow This has been the catch-all name for almost is most common, often with orange or red everything that is smaller than O. engelmannii. centers. It is widespread in all but the hotter The real plant is low, spreading, and small. It is parts the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts in not at all woody (unlike many species of similar Arizona, but becomes rare at lower hotter or larger size). It usually doesn’t shrivel much in elevations. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5656 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia pottsii Salm-Dyck
O. pottsii var. pottsii, Potts Pricklypear, Delicate Pricklypear summary summary
Cacteae in Horto Dyckensi Cultae Anno 1849 Apache County near Zuni, NN or north of 236, 1850. Kayenta, but no plants have been seen. It does Type locality: near Chihuahua, Chihuahua, not occur near Tucson). Mexico. • var. pottsii, Potts Pricklypear, Delicate This is a small clumping plant with an enlarged Pricklypear tuberous taproot that often reproduces by Synonyms: O. filipendulaEngelmann 1856; O. slender rhizomes, found mostly in silt flats, ballii Rose 1911; O. delicata Rose 1911. grasslands and mountain woodlands. The Small flowers with slender ovaries tend to pads vary in shape and color depending on the not open widely, usually have pale whitish variety. Every population looks a little different, stigmas, and vary in color from yellow (often and the species is found statewide except in red in middle) through oranges and pinks to the Sonoran Desert in the southwest. pure red or magenta. Slender fruits are usually This species is usually misidentified in somewhat stipitate and vary in color when ripe Arizona as O. macrorhiza, but that is a low from green or yellowish to deep purplish red, creeping species, mostly found on sand, which but are most often orangey or pinkish. A thick is not verified to occur in Arizona (it may enter elongate central taproot is characteristic. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5757 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia pottsii Salm-Dyck
O. pottsii var. montana (Engelmann) Bulot, Mountain Pricklypear summary summary
Succulentes 25, numero special: 40, 2002. Mountain plants with wide pads and shorter Type locality: Sandia Mountains, New Mexico. ovaries can be referred to as O. pottsii variety Synonyms: O. plumbea Rose 1908; O. loomisii montana. This variety usually has a wide, often Peebles 1939. nearly globe-shaped central taproot. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5858 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia riparia Griffiths, Arroyo Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the Biological Society of There are usually spines that are stout and Washington 27(6): 26, 1914. spreading in all of the areoles, usually white Type locality: above Florida Canyon., Santa and often with darker bases. Plants average Rita Mountains, Arizona. up to waist high, and often grow into sprawling This species is found near the upper edge of thickets. the desert from north of Phoenix to Superior It is the most abundant wild pricklypears and south to near Nogales; perhaps into Sonora in the area of Boyce Thompson Arboretum. and also near Alamogordo, NM. O. riparia is While only occasional in the Tucson area, it can roughly a smaller version of O. engelmannii, be quite abundant in the rapidly developing about half the size, but with usually distinctly northeast part of the city. It does not have narrow pads, narrower fruits and larger seeds. hairy seedlings. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 5959 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia tortispina Engelmann and Bigelow, Desert Grassland Pricklypear, Twist-spine Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the American Academy of often pale green to white in O. phaeacantha). Arts and Sciences 3: 293, 1856 [1857]. Compared to O. phaeacantha this species Type locality: Camanche Plains [site of averages smaller with areoles closer together, present day Lake Meredith near Borger, Texas]. spines more numerous and a bit less stout, Synonyms: O. charlestonensis Clokey 1943 flowers larger, and fruit smaller. [There is evidence that this is of hybrid origins.] This is primarily a grassland species, wide- This taxon is similar to O. cymochila (a more spread in all but the Sonoran and Mojave De- northeasterly species) on one hand, and to O. sert parts of Arizona. In the Tucson area it is phaeacantha on the other. Flowers and fruits occasional in the grasslands of more level areas are like those of O. phaeacantha. The flowers to the east and at higher elevations. Despite are varied in color, often with darker centers, the name, it no more often has twisted spines and with stigmas always green (stigmas are than do most other species. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6060 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia toumeyi Rose, Toumey Pricklypear summary summary
Contributions from the U. S. National are occasionally roundish. Areoles are widely Herbarium 12: 402, 1909. spaced and small on younger pads. Larger Type locality: Tumamoc Hill, Tucson, Arizona. spines are usually distinctly brownish, and one This is another smaller Opuntia that is lumped or sometimes more spines are distinctly longer into O. phaeacantha because guide books to than the others and point straight out from the not describe it. It is a spreading somewhat areoles. The longer spines are often twisting bushy plant, not too tall, averaging about knee and often over 2 inches/5cm long. Flowers are high, with pads relatively large for its stature. relatively large and yellow, sometimes orange It is common in the greater Tucson area, but or red in the center. Fruits are similar to those of seems to grow nowhere else. Pads are usually O. phaeacantha and O. camanchica but average distinctly longer than wide and obovate, but they larger and a bit narrower summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6161 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia valida Griffiths, Valida Pricklypear summary summary
Proceedings of the Biological Society of These are generally medium-large stiff bushes Washington 27: 24, 1914. about 1 to 1.5 m high and wide, with pads Type locality: near San Antonio, New Mexico. longer than wide, typically obovate but often Plants of this type are rarely found in rhomboid, often bluish, with several relatively the immediate Tucson area, but are more stout flattened longish spines per areole, and commonly seen in lower mountains and with spines increasing in number and length on sometimes in the desert to the north and older trunks. west. They can be abundant in the Organ Pipe, Trunks of O. engelmannii become less spiny Phoenix, and Kingman areas. Typical plants with age, while they become more so on occur in the Rio Grande and Pecos drainages O. valida. In the Tucson area O. engelmannii in New Mexico and Texas. Arizona plants tend tends to be a larger and taller plant, but with to be somewhat lighter in spine, glochid, and somewhat smaller and thicker pads. Fruits areole coloring than eastern plants, and spines on O. valida tend to be more elongate with a may be more slender and longer on average. sharper rim at the top, often somewhat spiny, However, the two are quite similar otherwise. and often earlier ripening. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6262 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Introduced Species in alphabetical order
Opuntia lindheimeri Engelmann, Texas Pricklypear summary summary
Boston Journal of Natural History 6: 207, red). Fruit is more likely to have a neck, more 1850. likely to be rounded at the top instead of pitted, Type locality: New Braunfels, Texas. and less likely to have a waxy bloom. They are Synonyms: O. ferruginispina Griffiths 1908; also of a more sour flavor. This species is found O. linguiformis Griffiths 1908; O. subarmata naturally almost entirely east of the Pecos River Griffiths 1909 [This last could be considered in New Mexico and Texas, but it is a common as a distinct robust variety from near-desert garden plant in Tucson, and is sometimes seen areas.] Many other names have been referred growing as if native, especially along arroyos to this species that don’t belong. where there is more moisture. This is one of O. lindheimeri is similar to O. engelmannii with the species with hairy seedlings. the same growth habit, but a bit “softer”and The garden cultivar ‘Linguiformis’ - the ‘Cow’s more inclined to flop over during drought or Tongue’ or ‘Lengua de Vaca’ - is a mutant form severe cold. Pads are usually a richer green, with indeterminate stems that can revert to and spines (if present) are yellow, sometimes normal growth. There is also a robust nearly reddish at the base (or reddish with yellow tips). spineless cultivar of this species commonly Flowers are typically a deeper brighter yellow grown in gardens that was the basis for David (or they may occasionally be bright orange or Griffiths’ Opuntia subarmata. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6363 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Opuntia microdasys (Lehmann) Pfeiffer, Bunny Ears summary summary
Cactus microdasys Lehmann, Semina in Synonyms: O. pulvinata De Candolle 1828; O. Horto Botanico Hamburgensi o Index Seminum macrocalyx Griffiths 1908 (Hamburg) 16, 1827. Enumeratio Diagnostica Everyone knows the “Bunny Ears”. Cactearum 154, 1837. It is sometimes found growing in wild patches Type locality: Hidalgo, Mexico. as if it is native. summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6464 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 Garden Species in alphabetical order summary summary
Opuntia woodsii, garden plant (Photo taken from the webbsite www.opuntiads.com
Tucson is an ideal climate for growing most spineless with huge wavy and undulate- Prickypears, and many species of Opuntia edged pads.) are grown in area gardens and landscapes. • O. dillenii Conceivably almost any of them could turn up • O. elata growing as if wild, particularly in a place where • O. ficus-indica (incl. O. megacantha and garden waste has been dumped in the past. In several other synonyms and cultivars) general though, plants found growing in the • O. gomei (usually mislabeled as O. alta) wild are native species. • O. leucotricha Some of the most commonly grown non- • O. monacantha native species include the following, but there • O. pilifera are many more: • O. polyacantha (mostly plants of var. • O. aciculata (incl. O. flexospina) erinacea [or ursina types]) • O. azurea • O. quimilo (= O. distans) • O. bergeriana • O. robusta • O. bonaerensis (usually called O. • O. rufida paraguayensis) • O. scheeri • O. cacanapa cv. ‘Ellisiana’ • O. stenopetala • O. (Nopalea) cochenillifera • O. streptacantha • O. cv. ‘Old Mexico’ (species unknown, it • O. tomentosa shows similarities to O. gomei, but perhaps • O. vaseyi is more related to O. dillenii. It is basically • O. woodsii summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6565 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987 summary summary
Opuntia rufida, flower of a garden plant (Photo ta- ken from the webbsite www.opuntiads.com
References • Griffiths, D., 1914, New Species of Opuntia, Proceedings of • Benson, L., 1982, The Cacti of the United States and Canada, the Biological Society of Washington. v. 27. p. 23 Stanford University Press. 1044 pp. • Griffiths, D.,1916,New Species of Opuntia, Proceedings of the • Benson, L. and A.A. Nickol, 1940, The Cacti of Arizona, Univer- Biological Society of Washington v. 29. p. 9. sity of Arizona Press; First Edition. 134 pp. • Griffiths, D. and R.F. Hare, 1906. Prickly Pear and Other Cacti • Britton, N.L. and J.N. Rose, 1919, The Cactaceae, v. 1, Carnegie as Food for Stock II, New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Sta- Institution of Washington, Gibson Brothers Press. tion Bulletin 60. • Coulter, J.M, 1894, Preliminary revision of the North American • Powell, A.M. and J.F. Weedin, 2004, ‘Cacti of the Trans-Pe- species of Echinocactus, Cereus, and Opuntia, Contributions cos and Adjacent Areas’, Texas Tech University Press. ISBN: to the U.S. National Herbarium 3: 355-466. 0896725316, 978-0896725317 • Crook, R. and R. Mottram, 1995-2005, Opuntia Index (Parts • Rose, J.N., 1909, New Species of Opuntia from Arizona, Con- 1-11), Bradleya v. 13 to v. 23. tributions to the U.S. National Herbarium 12(9): 401-402, pl. • Englemann G., in Salm-Dyct Cact Hort Dyck Anno 1849, LV. 1850:239. • Green, C.W. and D.J. Ferguson, 2012, Pricklypears Commonly Found in the United States and Northern Mexico. ISBN Online-Only Resources 0615131212, 9780615131214. 139 pp. • International Plant Names Index (accessed Feb 10, 2019, In- • Griffiths, D.,1908, Illustrated Studies in Opuntia I, Annual Re- ternet) port of the Missouri Botanical Garden v. 19. p. 259. • The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (accessed Feb 10, 2019, In- • Griffiths, D.,1909, Illustrated Studies in Opuntia II, Annual Re- ternet) port of the Missouri Botanical Garden v. 20. p. 81. • The Harvard University Herbaria (accessed Feb 10, 2019, In- • Griffiths, D., 1910, Illustrated Studies in Opuntia III, Annual ternet) Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden v. 21. p. 165. • Australian National Herbarium (accessed Feb 10, 2019, Inter- • Griffiths, D., 1911, Illustrated Studies in Opuntia IV, Annual net) Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden v. 21. p. 25. • Opuntia Web, (accessed Feb 10, 2019, Internet) summary
en or TucsonTucson Area Area Opuntia 6666 -- XEROPHILIAXEROPHILIA •• VolumeVolume VIII,VIII, No.No. 11 (25),(25), AugustAugust 20192019 || ISSNISSN 2285-39872285-3987