WikiBotanicals:Opuntia

Opuntia (the old Latin name used by Pliny, and  said to be derived from the city of Opus). Indian Fig; Prickly Pear. A genus of greenhouse, or  hardy succulent trees or shrubs, natives of the tropical and  warm regions of America; some of the species have become widely naturalised in the Old World.

Background
About 150 species  have been described, but many of these are not sufficiently distinct to merit specific rank. Flowers yellow, red, or  purple, lateral; calyx tube not produced above the ovary; lobes numerous; petals numerous, connate at base, spreading; stamens many-seriate. Berry pear-shaped, tubercled. Leaves scale-like, deciduous. Stem terete at base,  branched; branches articulated, flat, compressed, globose  or sub-cylindrical, tubercled; tubercles tomentose, spiny, the young ones leafy.

Cultivation
The cultivation of Opuntias is very easy. All that is necessary for plants in pots is to secure thorough drainage, and give all the light possible. Formerly, broken  brick rubbish was supposed to be essential to their well-being, but good loam alone will do quite well. Powdered bricks, mixed with the loam, however, suit the smaller-growing kinds, and insure rapid drainage. During winter, a smaller supply of water is required;  indeed, when at rest, the plants should be kept almost dry.

The hardy species are extremely interesting, and  grow freely in sunny spots in the open air, provided  some means be adopted to guard against superabundance of moisture. Some of them, in their native habitats, withstand much cold; but the dry air, or the covering of snow, protects them. An ordinary hand-light, placed over the  plants, is shelter enough, provided the position in which they are placed is dry and efficiently drained. Opuntias  may be propagated by means of the branches, or portions  of them; these should, after being cut off, be laid on a  dry shelf for a time, and then planted or laid on well-drained pots of loam and brick-dust; but very little water should be given until roots are emitted. Seeds, too, are readily raised.

Species
O. andicola (Andine). Plant much-branched; joints Cucumber-like, elongated, attenuated at apex, shining brownish-green in colour, at length woody; are olæ somewhat crowded, setose; prickles three or four, sub-rigid, slender, and one or two long ones, white. Andes of Chili.

O. arborescens (arborescent). flower beautiful purple, 1 1/2in. to 3in. in diameter; stigmas eight. Summer. fruit about 1in. long. Stems about 5ft. high (said to attain a height of 20ft. or 30ft. at its  southern limits); tubercles green, spiny, compressed-cristate, elevated, 3/4in. long; spines very variable in number and size. Mexico, &c.

O. Auberi (Auber's). Plant erect, large; joints glaucescent, thick,  oblong-ovate, with repand margins; areolæ remote; prickles mostly four, white, angular, one or two larger than the rest. Cuba.

O. aurantiaca (orange). flower orange-yellow. Joints linear or  linear-lanceolate, divaricate, compressed at apex, terete at base,  marked with dark green spots around the areolæ; areolæ large  convex, white-tomentose; spines unequal, the three longer ones rigid, brown, divergent, the two or three shorter ones white. h. 3ft. Chili, 1824. (B. R. 1606.)

O. aurea (golden pricklypear)

O. basilaris (base-branching). flower rose-purple, large. Summer. fruit sub-globose, deeply umbilicated. Stems low, branching only from the base; joints obovate, often refuse or fan-shaped; areolæ very close, densely covered with short, brown bristles. California, Arizona, &c. Varieties:
 * O. b. var. basilaris (beavertail pricklypear)
 * O. b. var. brachyclada (beavertail pricklypear)
 * O. b. var. treleasei

O. Bigelovii (Bigelow's). "Branches forming a dense head;  younger joints erect, adpressed, fragile, often shaken off by the  wind, and covering the soil around, taking root everywhere, or  sticking to the clothes of the passers-by, like burrs" ( Engelmann). Joints 2in. to 6in. long, fresh light green, covered with the small, almost hemispherical tubercles, which are arranged mostly in thirteen spirals, h. 10ft. to 12ft. Colorado.

O. boliviana (Bolivian). Stem articulated, sub-erect; joints 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, ovate-oblong, smooth, very pale green, becoming  yellowish with age; tubercles round, young ones greyish-yellow; prickles 3in. to 4in. long, flexible, white, sub-pellucid, h. over 1ft. Bolivia.

O. brachyarthra (short-jointed). flower small; stigmas five. Plant  ascendent; joints ovate or orbiculate, tumid, often sub-globose,  tubercled; tubercles crowded; prickles in groups of from three to five.

O. braziliensis (Brazilian). flower bright lemon-yellow, 1in. to 1 1/2in. in diameter; petals imbricated, sub-patent, the outer ones short, thick, and fleshy, the inner ones from 1/2in. to 1in. long. May and June. fruite transparent-yellow, sub-globose, with dense fascicles of chestnut-coloured bristles. Branches horizontal or declining, spiny; ultimate joints obovate or obovate-oblong. h. 10ft. to 30ft. Brazil, 1816.

O. candelabriformis (candelabrum-shaped). Plant sub-erect;  joints obovate or elliptic, glaucous-green; areolæ somewhat crowded; prickles four or five, white, and one very long one. Mexico.

O. chlorotica (dollarjoint pricklypear)

O. cochinellifera (Cochineal-bearing). A synonym of Nopalea coccinellifera.

O. corrugata (wrinkled), flower reddish-yellow. August. Stem  articulated; joints erect, cylindrical, green; areolæ crowded;  prickles pale tomentose, the upper ones very minute and setaceous, the lower ones six to eight, white, and elongated. h. 2ft. Chili, 1824.

O. crinifera (hair-bearing). Plant sub-erect; joints ovate or  elongated, slender, greenish; areolæ somewhat crowded, white, convex; lower prickles three or four, slender, slightly rigid, reddish; upper ones copious, white, long, silky. Brazil, 1846.

O. curassavica (Curassoa). flower yellow. June. Plant suberect; joints fragile, cylindrico-ventricose, compressed, dark green, much divaricated; areolæ crowded, white-tomentose. slightly woolly; prickles three to five, unequal, dark, eventually becoming white, acutely pungent, h. 6ft. Curassoa, 1690. There are several varieties of this species.

O. cylindrica (cylindrical). flower scarlet, 1in. in diameter, inconspicuous, several together just below the ends of the branches; petals short, erect, fruite pale yellowish-green, 2in. long, 1in. broad. leaves deciduous, 1/2in. long, cylindrical, acute. Stems several, cylindrical, the main one 6ft. or more high, all thickly armed with pale or white, fine, but not long, spines. Peru, 1799.

O. ×curvospina (searchlight pricklypear)

O. Davisii (Davis'). flower of a remarkable bronzy-greenish colour, 2in. in diameter. Stems tuberculate-terete, 1/2in. in diameter; spines five or six in a tuft, about 1/2in. long. New Mexico, 1883. A small, shrubby species. (B. M. 6652.)

O. decipiens (deceptive). Plant erect, branched, green; branches  spreading, cylindrical, attenuated at base; tubercles few, somewhat spirally disposed; areolæ small; central prickles yellow, tunicated, spreading-deflexed, the rest (three or four) smaller, somewhat radiating. Mexico.

O. echinocarpa (spiny-fruited). flower pale greenish-yellow, about 1 1/2in. across. Summer, fruit depressed, deeply umbilicate, very spiny. A low, much-branched, spreading species, with ovate-clavate joints densely covered with numerous spines, which are loosely coated with a whitish, glistening sheath. Colorado, &c.

O. Engelmanni (Engelmann's). flower yellow, with a reddish centre. May and June. Plant large, erect, 4ft. to 6ft. high; joints obovate. Chihuahua, 1854. Hardy.

O. Farmentieri (Parmentier's). leaves leaflets dark red, slender. Joints cucumber-like, pale green; areolæ spirally disposed,  convex, with reddish-brown tomentum; lower spines two or three, white-stramineous. Paraguay.

O. Ficus-Indica. Indian Fig. flower yellow. May. fruit red within, bristly, ovate, edible. leaves subulate, bristly in the axils, without spines. Stem erect, spreading; joints oval and obovate, 1ft. long. h. 2ft. Mexico, &c., 1731. Hardy. SYN. O. vulgaris.

O. floccosa (woolly) Stem club-shaped at base, thick, shining  green, crested, tubercled; tubercles fleshy, prominent; areolæ axillary, elongated, woolly. h, from 4in. to 5in. Bolivia.

O. fragilis (fragile), flower small, fruit ovate, scarcely spiny. leaves minute. Plant sub-decumbent; joints small, ovate, somewhat  compressed, tumid or sub-globose, hardly tuberculate, shining  green; tubercles somewhat crowded, large, white-tomentose; prickles robust. North America, 1814.

O. frutescens (shrubby), flower greenish, small, fruite scarlet, obovate, without tubercles. Plant shrubby, erect, with slightly erect branches; joints terete; spines almost solitary. Mexico, 1838.

O. glaucophylla (milky-green-leaved). Plant erect; joints  obovate, somewhat undulated, glaucous; prickles one or two, subulate, less than 1in. long. Mexico.

O. grandis (large). A synonym of O. stenopetala.

O. Kleiniæ (Mrs. Klein's). Plant erect, branched, greyish-green;  branches erect, cylindrical, tuberculated; fascicles usually spirally  disposed; areolæ velvety; prickles, one white, large, deflexed, the rest reddish-white, innumerable. South Mexico.

O. leptocaulis (slender-stemmed). Plant erect, branched;  branches cylindrical, erect, tuberculated; fascicles spirally disposed; areolæ sub-tomentose; prickles about three, setaceous, greenish, patent-deflexed, the rest setose, crowded, reddish. North Mexico, 1845.

O. macrorhiza (twistspine pricklypear)

O martiniana (seashore cactus)

O. missouriensis (Missouri). flower light yellow. May to July. fruit dry, prickly. leaves minute; axils armed with a tuft of straw-coloured bristles and five to ten slender, radiating spines, which are 1in. to 2in. long. Plant prostrate; joints broadly obovate and flat, 2in. to 4in. long, tuberculate. North America, 1814. Hardy.

O. monacantha (one-spined). Plant erect; joints large, elliptic  or ovate-oblong, much compressed, glabrous, green; areolæ remote, with very short, greyish, bristly tomentum and a single, rigid, brown spine, yellow at apex. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1816. (B. R.  1726, under name of Cactus Opuntia Tuna.)

O. multiflora (many-flowered). flower yellow. Summer. Plant erect; branches large, ovate or elliptical, flattened; spines clustered, numerous, unequal.

O. nigricans (blackish), flower pink. August. Plant erect; joints  large, ovate or lanceolate, green; areolæ remote, fulvous; prickles two or three, unequal, divergent, rigid, dark greenish. h. 3ft. South America, 1795. (B. M. 1557, under name of ''Cactus Tuna  nigricans''.)

O. papyracantha (papery-spined). Plant with sub-globose joints and long, papyraceous spines. Argentine Republic, 1872.

O. Pes-corvi (crow-foot), flower yellow, large; sepals and petals eight to twelve, cuneate; stigmas four. Summer. Stems diffuse, prostrate; joints 1in. to 3in. long, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, spiny; spines by pairs, unequal, elongated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South United States.

O. phæacantha (gay-spined). flower yellow, numerous, around the summit of the joints; stigmas six. June, Stem erect; joints oblong; spines yellow or brown painted, strong, unequal. h. 3ft. Mexico, &c. t 1811. (B. M. 2691, under name of Cactus polyanthos.)

O. pinkavae (Pinkava's pricklypear)

O. platyacantha (flat-spined). Plant with a low-branching  stem, with spreading, cylindric, slightly tuberculated, shining  brown branches; areolæ large, immersed, armed with setae and spines of different forms and sizes.

O. polyacantha (plains pricklypear, hairspine cactus, panhandle pricklypear, and starvation pricklypear). Low, spreading plants, with fibrous roots, usually forming small clumps; joints not very thick, orbicular, usually less than 10 cm. in diameter, generally light green; areoles small, closely set, usually less than 1 cm. apart, all spiny; spines numerous. Varieties:
 * O. p. var. erinacea
 * O. p. var. hystricina
 * O. p. var. nicholii
 * O. p. var. polyacantha

O. Pœppigii (Pœppig's). flower pale yellow, 2in. in diameter, sessile or shortly-stalked, having an exceedingly short ovary, about 1/3in. long. leaves incurved, cylindrical. Branches leafy; spines spreading, solitary, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. Chili, 1884. A dwarf bush. (R. G.  1129.)

O. pulvernlenta (powdery). Plant erect, thick, cylindrical,  pale greyish-blue, powdery, with oblong tubercles; areolæ on  the tops of the tubercles large, round, bristly, and with two prickles, one of which is very long and the other shorter. Tropical America.

O. Rafinesquii (Raflinesque's). flower often with a red centre,  larger, and with more numerous petals (ten to twelve) than in O. vulgaris. June. leaves spreading, some of the axils bearing a few small spines and a single strong one, 9in. to 12in. long. Plant with deep green joints, h. 1ft. North America, 1868. Hardy.

O. Salmiana (Prince Salm-Dyck's). flower yellow, red. September. Plant erect, branched, of a greyish-green colour; branches  cylindrical, without tubercles; areolæ somewhat crowded, white-tomentose, the mature ones pulvinately globose,  the lower ones with three or four minute, reddish prickles, h. 2ft. Brazil, 1850. (B. M. 4542 ; L. &  P. F. G. i. 101.)

O. Segethi (Segeth's). This species is similar in habit to O. Pœppigii, but has much longer flowers, the ovary being 3 1/2in. long, with a few thick, cylindric, spreading bracts, 1in. long; corolla pale pink, 1 1/2in. in diameter. Chili, 1884. (B. G. 1129.)

O. sulphurea (sulphur-coloured). flower yellow. July. Stem articulated; joints erect, sub-globose, of a beautiful green colour; prickles  pale-tomentose; upper ones bristly, dark purple,  very minute, penicillately collected; lower ones  six to twelve, elongated, acicular, white, purple at the apex; central ones very long. h. 2ft. Chili, 1827.

O. Tuna (Tuna). flower reddish-orange. July. fruite rich carmine, 2in. to 3in. long. Branches jointed, 4in. to 8in. or more long, oval or oblong, with distant bundles of yellow, unequal, spreading spines. Stem (of an old plant) sometimes 20ft. high. West Indies, &c., 1731.

O. tunicata (coated-spined). Plant sub-erect,  much-branched; branches green, divergent, attenuated at base, tuberculate-areolar; areolæ  obtuse, oblong, white-tomentose; prickles four  to six large ones, and two or three small ones, all white, membranous, sub-pellucid, tunicated. Mexico, 1840.

O. Turpinii (Turpin's). Plant articulate, erect,  low, with mammillariform tubercles, greyish-green; joints globose-ovate, crowded, young ones about 2in. in diameter; areolæ round,  white-tomentose; prickles biformed, varying from three to ten lines long. Chili, 1844.

O. vulgaris (common). flower pale sulphur-yellow. June. fruit nearly smooth, pulpy, edible. leaves  minute, ovate-subulate and appressed; axils bristly, rarely with a few small spines. Plant  low, prostrate or spreading, with flat and broadly obovate joints, h. 2ft. Mexico, &c., 1596. (B. M.  2393, under name of Cactus Opuntia.)

O. vulgaris (common), of Tenore. A synonym of O. Ficus-Indica.