Opuntiads of the USA

(by Joe Shaw and Dave Ferguson)

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Opuntia Country No. 1
Opuntia Country No. 2
Opuntia Country No. 3
Opuntia Country No. 4
Opuntia Country No. 5

Opuntia Country with
Daiv Freeman

Northern Patagonia Cactus Trip

Opuntia Species, Unknown No. 4

(Opuntia macrocentra-like)

This unidentified taxon was observed growing in southern New Mexico. It grows with Opuntia macrocentra, and is similar to O. macrocentra, but is more upright and has a different bloom season. Additionally, the plants of this unknown taxon do not assume a purple color in winter, and the spines are definitely pale at their tips.

More studies are needed to document the biology of the plants throughout the seasons, and a chromsome count might be very useful.

	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4 (left), with O. macrocentra (right), Echinocereus coccineus between	Same plants in image at immediate left, image cropped to bring plants closer together for comparison
Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, showing plant aspect including round pads and growth from single trunk, May 2006	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, showing characteristic pale spines, May 2006	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, with 2 small fruits, May 2006
Close-up of plant in top row, at left	Close-up of plant at left	Extreme close-up of plant at far left, short spines present in some areoles on pad surface, near pad tip
Aspect image of plant in top row, far right	Unknown Opuntia No. 4, smaller plant but of blooming size	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, typical plant, May 2006
Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, typical pale spines, some changing to pink towards base	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, typical pale spines, some darkening to purple-brown near base	Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, extreme close-up of cladode
Unknown Opuntia species No. 4, typical plant shape and aspect