Opuntia galapageia
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Opuntia galapageia |
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Opuntia galapageia is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The epithet of the species refers to the Galápagos Islands , where it was firstcollectedby Charles Darwin .
description
Opuntia galapageia grows like a tree and forms well-developed, rounded crowns . It reaches heights of 2 to 5 meters. The trunk, initially thorny, later covered with reddish platelets, is usually clearly pronounced. The green to yellow-green limbs are round, elongated, inverted ovoid and are 22 to 38 centimeters long, 15 to 27 centimeters wide and 1 to 3.5 centimeters thick. Glochids are absent or only a few are present. The 5 to 35 upright, strongly dimorphic (two-shaped) thorns are initially yellow and later become reddish or brownish-white. They are between 2.5 and 7.5 inches long.
The yellow flowers are 2.5 to 7.5 inches long and reach a diameter of 3.5 to 6 inches. The fruits are green, spherical to elongated and have few glochids and a few thorns. They have a diameter of 2 to 3.5 centimeters and a length of 2 to 6 centimeters.
Distribution, systematics and endangerment
There are three varieties distinguished. Opuntia galapageia var. Galapageia is common on the islands of Isla Bartolomé , Isla Pinta and Isla Santiago in the Columbus Archipelago . Opuntia galapageia var. Macrocarpa E.Y.Dawson is only on Isla Pinzón and Opuntia galapageia var. Profusa E.F. Anderson & Walk. only found on Isla Rábida .
The first description was in 1837 by John Stevens Henslow .
Opuntia Galapageia is in the endangered Red List species the IUCN as " Endangered (EN) ," d. H. threatened, classified. The development of the populations is considered stable.
proof
literature
- Opuntia galapageia Henslow In: Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press: Portland (Oregon), 2001, pp. 499 f. ISBN 0-88192-498-9
- Opuntia galapageia Hensl. In: Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd edition, 1984, Volume I, p. 561 f. ISBN 3-437-30380-5
Individual evidence
- ^ John Stevens Henslow: Description of Two New Species of Opuntia; with Remarks on the Structure of the Fruit of Rhipsalis. In: Magazine of Zoology and Botany . Volume 1, p. 467. 1837 online
- ↑ Opuntia galapageia in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Posted by: Tye, A. & Kling, M., 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
