Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia macrocentra
	Opuntia macrocentra
Systematics
Order :	Clove-like (Caryophyllales)
Family :	Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Subfamily :	Opuntioideae
Tribe :	Opuntieae
Genre :	Opuntia ( Opuntia )
Type :	Opuntia macrocentra
Scientific name
	Opuntia macrocentra
	Engelm.

Opuntia macrocentra flower

Opuntia macrocentra is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The specific epithet macrocentra means 'with large central spines'. English common names are "Black-Spined Prickly Pear", "Blunt-Spined Prickly Pear", "Long-Spined Prickly Pear", "Purple Prickly Pear" and "Reddish Purple Prickly Pear".

description

Opuntia macrocentra grows bushy and reaches heights of 60 to 90 centimeters. The elongated, sometimes wider, shoot sections are often bluish or purple, sometimes without a backbone, but as a rule they have thorns on the upper areoles which have non-sloping glochids . The one to two, rarely three black-brown to white, upright thorns are 4 to 7 centimeters long. The individual links are up to 14 centimeters high, 10 centimeters wide and about 1 centimeter thick. The yellow flowers have a reddish tint and are up to 7.5 centimeters in diameter. The fleshy fruits are up to 6 inches long and purple in color. The seeds are 4 to 4.5 millimeters wide.

Distribution, systematics and endangerment

Opuntia macrocentra is distributed in the US states of Arizona and Texas as well as in the Mexican state of Chihuahua at altitudes of 1200 to 1500 meters.

The first description was published in 1856 by George Engelmann . There are two varieties :

Opuntia macrocentra var. Macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra var. Minor MSAnthony

The following synonyms exist : Opuntia violacea Engelm. , Opuntia macrocentra var. Martiniana L.D.Benson and Opuntia violacea var. Macrocentra (Engelm.) LDBenson .

In the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN , the species is listed as " Least Concern (LC) ". H. listed as not endangered. The development of the populations is considered stable.

proof

literature

Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press, Portland (Oregon) 2001, ISBN 0-88192-498-9 , pp. 506 .
NL Britton , JN Rose : The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . tape I . The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923, p. 140 ( online ).
Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd Edition. tape I . Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1984, ISBN 3-437-30384-8 , p. 498 f .

Individual evidence

↑ George Engelmann: Synopsis of the Cactaceae of the Territory of the United States and Adjacent Regions . In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences . Volume 3, Boston (MA) 1856, pp. 392-393.
^ Margery Stuart Anthony: In: American Midland Naturalist . Volume 55, number 1, 1956, p. 244.
^ Opuntia macrocentra in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: Heil, K., Terry, M., Corral-Díaz, R. & Goettsch, BK, 2013. Accessed January 4, 2015.

Web links

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

[1] George Engelmann: Synopsis of the Cactaceae of the Territory of the United States and Adjacent Regions . In: Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences . Volume 3, Boston (MA) 1856, pp. 392-393.

[2] Margery Stuart Anthony: In: American Midland Naturalist . Volume 55, number 1, 1956, p. 244.

[3] Opuntia macrocentra in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: Heil, K., Terry, M., Corral-Díaz, R. & Goettsch, BK, 2013. Accessed January 4, 2015.