Opuntia tunoidea
| Opuntia tunoidea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Opuntia |
| Species: | O. tunoidea |
| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia tunoidea Gibbes | |
Opuntia tunoidea is a species of prickly pear cactus that is native to just South Carolina in the eastern United States.[1]
Description
Opuntia tunoidea is an erect succulent that can grow to as much as 2 meters (6.6 ft) in height. Its branches are widely spaced with an open structure. The large flat pads are spoon-shaped, tear-drop shaped, oval, or elliptic and are generally 10 to 30 centimeters (3.9–11.8 in) long. They are bright green in color and covered in natural waxes.[2]
The pads are covered in spines that emerge from areole, raised areas, that are evenly spaced and more numerous along the edges of the pads than on the flat faces. The spines are often in groups of two to four, but can also be solitary or in larger numbers. They are a dull yellow color when dry and 1–3 cm (0.5–1 in) long, and can be straight or curved.[2]
The flowers are bright yellow and 6.5–8 cm (2.5–3 in) across. The outermost set of sepals is kidney-shaped. The fruit is 4.5–6 cm (2–2.5 in) long and purple.[2]
Taxonomy
Opuntia tunoidea was given its scientific name in 1858 by Lewis Reeve Gibbes. It is classified in the genus Opuntia within the Cactaceae family and has no subspecies or botanical synonyms.[1] Although it is listed as an accepted name by Plants of the World Online and World Plants,[1][3] it is considered a synonym of Opuntia dillenii by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and is not described in the Flora of North America.[4][5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Opuntia tunoidea Gibbes". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Small, John Kunkel (1933). Manual of the Southeastern Flora (First ed.). New York: The author. pp. 909–910. OCLC 1087101. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ Hassler, Michael (30 March 2026). "Opuntia tunoidea in the Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 26.03". World Plants. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ NRCS (2026). "Opuntia dillenii". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ Pinkava, Donald J. (18 April 2025) [In print 2003]. "Opuntia". Flora of North America. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-19-517389-5. OCLC 177245214. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
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