Opuntia macrorhiza
| Opuntia macrorhiza | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opuntia macrorhiza |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Opuntia macrorhiza | ||||||||||||
| Engelm. |
Opuntia macrorhiza is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The specific epithet macrorhiza is derived from the Greek words μακρός (macros) for "large" and ρίζα (rhiza) for "root" and refers to the great roots of the species. English trivial names are "Delicate Prickly Pear", "Plains Prickly Pear" , "Starvation Prickly Pear" and "Tuberous-Rooted Prickly Pear"
description
Opuntia macrorhiza grows as a shrub and forms low cushions that can reach a height of up to 13 centimeters and a width of 2 meters. The fleshy, turnip roots reach a diameter of up to 7.5 centimeters. The round to elongated shoot sections are gray-green to blue-green. They are 5 to 10 inches long, 5 to 6 inches wide and up to 1.2 inches thick. The elongated conical leaves are up to 7.5 millimeters long. The areoles , which are 1 to 2 centimeters apart , have yellow or brown glochids up to 3 millimeters long . The 1 to 6 spines , which arise mainly from the upper areoles, are white to gray to brownish. They are usually bent back, straight to slightly bent and between 3.8 and 5.6 inches long. The 5 to 6 centimeters long flowers are yellow with a red base to reddish. The purple to reddish-purple, fleshy fruits are obovate. They are 2.5 to 4 inches long and have a diameter of 2.5 to 3 inches.
Distribution, systematics and endangerment
Opuntia macrorhiza is common in the midwestern and southwestern United States at altitudes of 600 to 2,100 meters. The first description was published in 1850 by George Engelmann . There are two varieties :
- Opuntia macrorhiza var. Macrorhiza
- Opuntia macrorhiza var. Pottsii (Salm-Dyck) LDBenson
Numerous synonyms are known.
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.
use
The Ramah- Navajo use thorns from Opuntia macrorhiza to prick infections on the skin and they use roasted shoots to make a lubricant that is used at birth.
proof
literature
- Opuntia macrorhiza . In: Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press: Portland (Oregon), 2001, pp. 506 f. ISBN 0-88192-498-9
- Opuntia macrorhiza Engelmann In: NL Britton , JN Rose : The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . Washington, 1919, Volume I, pp. 130 f.
- Opuntia macrorhiza Eng. In: Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd edition, 1982, Volume I, p. 484 f. ISBN 3-437-30380-5
Individual evidence
- ^ Boston Journal of Natural History . Volume 6, Boston (MA) 1850, p. 206.
- ↑ Opuntia macrorhiza in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: Heil, K., Terry, M. & Corral-Díaz, R., 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
further reading
- Kathleen H. Keeler, Brigitte Tenhumberg: Population Dynamics of the Western Prickly Pear, Opuntia macrorhiza (Cactaceae) . In: The Southwestern Naturalist . Volume 56, number 2, 2011, pp. 147-153, DOI: 10.1894 / F02-JB-17.1 .
