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Opuntia dellenii ‘reticulata’ a prickly pear with a strange
network of scars that looks like the skin of a snake. |
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Description: Opuntia
reticulata is a rather strange monstrous form with a certain
fascination obtained in Europe. It seems to be spineless and innocuous
but it has small stiff spines and very irritating glochids like most of
the opuntias. Criss cross line markings make it look like the body of a
snake.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) |
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Opuntia zebrina forma 'reticulata'
Scientific name:
Opuntia dillenii
Origin:
Europe
(Nursery produced cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
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Synonyms:
Taxon
synonyms:
- Cactus dillenii
- Opuntia zebrina
- Opuntia nitens
- Opuntia melanosperma
- Opuntia atrocapensis
- Opuntia stricta var. dillenii
- Opuntia anahuacensis
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Opuntia dellenii ‘reticulata’ - a close-up of the felty
network of lines on a young cladode.
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Cultivation: They are
relatively easy to culture, but spreads irregularly all around and are
quite sensitive to over watering (root rot prone). Require full sun to partial
shade with a well-drained soil mix. The plants are watered and allowed
to dry thoroughly before watering again. During the winter months, the
plants enjoy a cold place where the temperature is dropped to 5/10° C,
but hardy to -5° C for short periods of time if very
dry. During this period water only enough to keep the pads from
shrivelling.
Propagation: Cuttings taken at any time in the growing season.
Remove a pad from the plant and then leave it in a dry sunny place for a
couple of days to ensure that the base is thoroughly dry and has begun
to callous. Pot up into a porous compost. rooting within a
month. |
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Cultivation and Mail Sale 
