Opuntia quitensis
Opuntia quitensis | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opuntia quitensis |
||||||||||||
Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Opuntia quitensis | ||||||||||||
FAC Weber |
Opuntia quitensis is a species of plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family(Cactaceae). The epithet of the species is derived from the place where the type species was found , the Ecuadorian capital Quito . A special feature of Opuntia species is their dioecious .
description
Opuntia quitensis grows stretched out lengthways with individual somewhat upright shoots and forms large thickets with heights of 0.4 to 3 meters. The flattened, narrowed elongated to almost round shoot sections are bare and firmly connected to each other. They are 6 to 40 inches long and 5 to 13 inches wide. The brown, 2 to 4 millimeter long glochids emerging from the areoles are inconspicuous. The unequal two to seven thorns , which are sometimes missing, are needle-like to sub-like and have a few barbs at the tip. They are yellowish white, somewhat darker at the tip and sometimes slightly flattened. The thorns reach a length of 0.5 to 8 centimeters.
The unisexual, orange-red to orange-yellow flowers are 2.3 to 7 centimeters long and 1 to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The barrel-shaped, brownish green fruits have a reddish tint. They are covered with glochids and sometimes thorns or bristles. The fruits are 2.5 to 4 inches long and reach a diameter of 2 to 4 inches.
Distribution, systematics and endangerment
Opuntia quitensis is common in Ecuador and Peru at altitudes of 3000 meters. The first description was published in 1898 by Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber . Synonyms are Platyopuntia quitensis and Opuntia macbridei .
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
- Opuntia quitensis . In: Edward F. Anderson : The Cactus Family . Timber Press: Portland (Oregon), 2001, p. 515. ISBN 0-88192-498-9 .
- Opuntia quitensis Weber In: NL Britton , JN Rose : The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family . Washington, 1919, Volume I, p. 154.
- Opuntia quitensis Web. In: Curt Backeberg : Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde . 2nd edition, 1982, Vol. I, pp. 617 f. ISBN 3-437-30380-5
Individual evidence
- ^ Dictionnaire d'Horticulture . Volume 2, pp. 894, 1898
- ↑ Opuntia quitensis in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: Loaiza, C., 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2015.