Opuntia jamaicensis

Opuntia jamaicensis
Opuntia jamaicensis
Systematics
Order : Clove-like (Caryophyllales) Family : Cactus family (Cactaceae) Subfamily : Opuntioideae Tribe : Opuntieae Genre : Opuntia ( Opuntia ) Type : Opuntia jamaicensis
Scientific name
Opuntia jamaicensis
Britton & Harris

Opuntia jamaicensis is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The specific epithet jamaicensis means 'from Jamaica'.

description

Opuntia jamaicensis grows shrubby with several ascending branches and reaches heights of up to 1 meter. A short trunk is formed. The cloudy green, thin, slightly sloping, obovate, tapered shoot sections are 7 to 13 inches long and 5 to 7.5 inches wide. The areoles are up to 2.5 centimeters apart. The two (rarely one to five) needle-like, unequal thorns are whitish and up to 2.5 centimeters long.

The bright, sulfur-yellow flowers have a reddish central stripe and reach a diameter of up to 4 centimeters. The pear-shaped, red fruits are 3.5 to 4 inches long.

Distribution, systematics and endangerment

Opuntia jamaicensis is common in Jamaica .

It was first described in 1911 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and William H. Harris .

In the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN , the species is called " Data Deficient (DD) ", i. H. with insufficient data. The future development of the populations is unknown.

proof

literature

• Edward F. Anderson : The Great Cactus Lexicon . Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8001-4573-1 , p. 463 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ NL Britton: At undescrbed Opuntia from Jamaica . In: Torreya . Volume 11, 1911, p. 130 (online) .
2. ↑ Opuntia jamaicensis in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: Gann, GD & Majure, L., 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2015.

Web links

Commons : Opuntia jamaicensis  - collection of images, videos and audio files