Opuntiads of the USA

(by Joe Shaw and Dave Ferguson)

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Opuntia dulcis Engelm.

Opuntia dulcis has sometimes been described as a variety of O. phaeacantha. However, throughtout their overlapping ranges the two species are differentiable and do not appear to be varieties or forms of a single species. Opuntia dulcis is a woodier plant with a distinctive look.

 

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis near Bagdad, AZ

opuntia dulcis

Close-up of plant at left

opuntia dulcis

Close-up of plant at far left

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Close-up of plant at immediate left

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Apparent Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009, showing strong similarity to putative O. mojavensis from Nevada

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis peeking through grass, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis

Opuntia dulcis, near Kirkland, AZ, June 2009

opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, mature plant.
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, west of San Ysidro, NM a few miles.
opuntia dulcis
Opunta dulcis, late winter color and hydration,New Mexico, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Multiple Opuntia dulcis plants, rocky south-facing slope, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Close-up, aereoles of Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, near Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, cultivated plant, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM, March, 2006.
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM.
opuntia dulcis
Close-up, pad of Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM, late winter.
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, a few mies west of San Ysidro, NM, late winter.
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, Cibola National Forest, ca. 6,000-6,500 ft. elevation.
opuntia phaecantha
Opuntia phaecantha, Placitas, NM, can be confused with O. dulcis
opuntia phaecantha
Close-up of previous image, Opuntia phaecantha
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, May 2006, south of Artesia NM, with O. valida, O. engelmannii, O. gilvescens, O. orbiculata, and Echinocactus
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, close-up of plant at left
opuntia dulcis
Close-up of plant at far left

Opuntia dulcis, May 2006, south of Artesia NM, with O. valida, O. engelmannii, O. gilvescens, O. orbiculata, and Echinocactus

Close-up of plant to left

Close-up of plant at far left

Close-up of plant in row above, south of Artesia, NM
opuntia dulcis
Opuntia dulcis, Alamogordo, NM, 2004
opuntia phaecantha
Opuntia dulcis, Placitas, NM
opuntia dulcis like
Opuntia dulcis-like, found in southwest UT along Interstate 15 (near St. George, UT), plants were never identified properly in the field but flower is typical O. dulcis
opuntia dulcis like
Opuntia dulcis-like, close-up of garden plant at immediate left
opuntia dulcis like
Close-up of cladode on Opuntia dulcis-like plant at far left, plants were woody and not prostrate, similar to O. dulcis and other O. dulcis-like plants
opuntia angustata
Opuntia dulcis-like, Kingman, AZ, June 2007
opuntia angustata
Probably Opuntia dulcis, Kingman, AZ, just east of town on Hualapai Road
opuntia angustata
Possibly Opuntia dulcis, unusual cladode shape, Kingman, AZ

 

 

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All materials copyrighted, 2005-2010, Joe J. Shaw and David Ferguson, except where otherwise noted.
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