Opuntia megacantha

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Opuntia megacantha
Opuntia megacantha

Opuntia megacantha

Systematics
Order : Clove-like (Caryophyllales)
Family : Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Subfamily : Opuntioideae
Tribe : Opuntieae
Genre : Opuntia ( Opuntia )
Type : Opuntia megacantha
Scientific name
Opuntia megacantha
Salm-Dyck

Opuntia megacantha is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The epithet of the species means "big thorn".

description

Opuntia megacantha grows shrubby to tree-like and reaches a height of 4 to 5 meters. Sometimes tribes are trained. The inverted egg-shaped to elongated shoot sections are green to light gray-green. They are 40 to 60 (and more) centimeters long. The small leaves are green or purple. The small brownish areoles stand 4 to 5 centimeters apart and carry small yellow glochids that fall off early . The 1 to 5 whitish, diverging thorns are 2 to 3 inches long.

The yellow to orange flowers reach a length of up to 8 centimeters. The fruits are 7 to 8 inches long.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 88.

Distribution and systematics

Opuntia megacantha is common in the Mexican states of San Luis Potosí , Aguascalientes , Guanajuato, and Zacatecas . The first description was published in 1834 by Joseph zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck .

use

In Mexico, the juice of Opuntia megacantha was mixed with sebum to make candles.

proof

literature

  • Opuntia megacantha . In: Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press: Portland (Oregon), 2001, p. 507, ISBN 0-88192-498-9 .
  • Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dack In: NL Britton , JN Rose : The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . Washington, 1919, Vol. I, pp. 185-187.
  • Opuntia megacantha SD. In: Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd edition, 1982, Volume I, pp. 523 f., ISBN 3-437-30380-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Opuntia megacantha at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  2. ↑ Hortus Dyckensis: Or directory of the plants growing in the botanical garden at Dyck . P. 363, 1834; on-line
  3. ↑ Anderson 2001, p. 68

Web links

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