Opuntia basilaris var. caudata

Opuntia basilaris (forma caudata) compact
New cladodes stretch from the plant base
(from which the name "basilaris")
 

Description: Branching upwards to 15-20cm high in tight clumps up to 40cm  in diameter.
Stem: Oval to heart-shaped bright blue, with a blush of purple pigmentation (due to the presence of betacyanins pigments) that vary in function of temperature.  New pads stretching from the lower areas of the plant.
Areoles : Numerous with white  wool (3 mm of diameter), filled with brownish-reddish clustered glochids 3mm long and easily penetrate the skin.
Spines: Spineless.
Flower: 5cm in diameter and 6cm long;  open from spring to early summer. They are intensely rose purple.

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.

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}
var.  caudata

Origin:  Unknown, perhaps it is a  nursery produced cultivar.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

This is a beautiful dwarf compact, form of the Beavertail Prickly Pear. The cladodes are thick blue/purple and hearted. Very nice plant and highly decorative.

Reproduction: Cuttings

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Opuntia basilaris.

• Opuntia basilaris
• Opuntia basilaris caudata