|
Free blooming species also when small.
|
|
Description:
Habit:
Flattened-padded succulent, forms large clumps.
Stem:
Branched up to 60-90cm tall and
100-300 cm wide,
Segments
obovate or partly rounded, faded and
glaucous,
They measure 10-12 cm. in length.
Leaves:
ephemeral
Areoles :
Large, closed one to each others.
Glochids:
Numerous, thin,
Spines:
Acicular, of a yellowish/toasted colour, up to 3(5,5)cm.in length.
Often folded.
Flower:
Yellow (?) diameter 8-10 cm. Several sources report the flowers as
being 'yellow'. But the plant in cultivation usually has bright
red-orange flowers, sometime the centre is greenish.
Stigma
with 8-10 green
lobes.
|
It has short needle-like and sharp spines;
use caution when handling, the glochids
embed themselves into skin and inflict
painful stings. |
 |
|
Cultivation:
In outdoors:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for
xeriscaping,
little or no water
once established, in the green housekeep dry in winter, irrigate
regularly during the
growing season.
Frost Tolerance (Hardiness): - 2° -10° C (USDA: 8-10 )Needs
full Sun
Propagation:
Herbaceous stem
cuttings (Allow
cut surface
to callus over before planting).
|
|
Leaves are
fusiform
and
ephemeral. |
Yellow/orange spines.
Glaucous epidermis.
|
|
Family:
Cactaceae
(Cactus Family)
Scientific Name:
Opuntia
aciculata
Griffiths, 1916
Distribution:
South-western USA, north-western Mexico
Listed in CITES Appendix
II
|
|
Type: |
|
|
Synonyms:
-
Opuntia lindheimeri var. aciculata,
Engelm. (Griffiths) Bravo, 1974.
-
Opuntia engelmannii var. aciculata
Salm-Dyck (Griffiths) Weniger, 1970
-
Opuntia engelmannii ssp. aciculata (Griffiths)
U.Guzmán, comb. et stat. nov.
-
Opuntia tardospina Griffiths
Etymology:
The
genus
name"Opuntia"
refers to a Greek name used by Pliny for a diverse plant which grew in
the region of the town of Opus in Greece.
The
species name
"
Aciculata" derives from the Latin word “acicula” which means
“a small pin for a headdress”, and the adjectival suffix
for nouns “atus” : possessive of or likeness of something (with,
shaped, made) for verb participles: a completed action, -ed
( The specific name implies:
"covered with small pins").
|
|
Flowers are big and colourful
Tepals: orange-yellow with a violet throat.
Stamens
clear yellow,
stigmas green with a fat pink
stylus.
|
|
Cultivation and Mail Sale 
