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Opuntia basilaris
New cladodes stretch from the plant base
(from which the name "basilaris") |
Description:
This is a smaller
prickly pear,
branching upwards to 30cm (60 cm) high in
clumps up to 90cm (1.2 m) in diameter.
Stem:
Oval
to roundish blue-gray-green, with a blush of purple
pigmentation (due to the presence of
betacyanins pigments) that vary in function of temperature,
glabrous or slightly covered with a velvety
pubescence, smooth to wrinkled in dry conditions. New
pads
stretching from the lower areas of the plant.
Areoles : Numerous with white or brown
wool (3 mm of diameter), filled with brownish-reddish clustered
bristles 3mm long (glochids).
Glochids:
While lacking spines the plant is well protected with
copious and effective
glochids
that fill each areole
and easily penetrate the skin.
Spines:
Usually
spineless, if a few spines are present they are confined to the
upper rim of the
pad.
Flower:
5cm in
diameter and 6cm long; open from spring to early summer. They
are intensely rose purple with deep magenta-red
filaments and white or pink
style,
stigma
is white.
(yellow blooming plant are also know).
Fruit:
Spineless,
globular to
obovate 4cm long. Tan grey and
dry
at
maturity, areoles 24–76 usually
puberulent.
Seeds: Large,
rounded, smooth, cream colored, 0.5 to 1cm in diameter.
Notes:
Plant from different places of
origin are somewhat variable in
coloration,
growth
habit,
pubescence, and flower color. |
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Family:
Cactaceae
(Cactus Family) |
Scientific Name:
Opuntia
basilaris
Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow 1856
Published
in: Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 3: 298-299.
1856. {Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts ; BPH 724.20} |
Type:
Protologue Arizona, Bigelow (LT:
MO) lecto.-Benson, Cacti U.S. Canada 921. 1982
Type specimen(s)
LT: Bigelow
s.n., 1854, USA: Arizona (MO).
Vernacular name (s):Beavertail Cactus
-
Beavertail Prickly Pear (Referring to the pads that
remember the tail of a beaver )
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Distribution:
Beaver tail cactus occurs in Arizona, southern Utah,
southern Nevada, southern California, north western Mexico (northern
Baja California and northern Sonora) From the ridge crest area of
Sonora, Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
Habitat: Grows in very
arid plains and valleys (rainfall
mostly in
winter
from 200 to 500 mm/year) in
sandy or
rocky
soils
with a
basic
pH (Ranges 6 to 8), from sea level to 1300m
Conservation status:
Listed in CITES Appendix
II
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 genus name implies:
“plant of the town of Opus”).
The
species name
"basilaris"
derives from the Latin
"basilis"
which means “basal”
and the suffix "-aris".
( The specific name implies:
"from the base, basal").
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Cultivation:
Best
in very fast
draining
mineral soils this plant is very
rot prone,
needs little water once established, avoid
acid soils rich in
humus or
clayey.
Tolerates
sand.
Keep dry in
winter.
Frost Tolerance:
Hardy to -5°:
Sun Exposure:
They
need maximum light exposure in
full sun. Avoid
shadow. Handle with precautions to avoid the prickly
glochids,
besides the blue
pruina
that cover the
cladodes may be
allergenic for same people. |
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of
Opuntia basilaris.
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