Opuntiads of the USA

(by Joe Shaw and Dave Ferguson)

Mission

Opuntia Species

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

Opuntia County, Big Bend

World Opuntiads

Peru Cactus Trip

Northern Patagonia Cactus Trip

Northern Patagonia Sights

Notes from the Editors

Culture Notes

Literature

Editorial Board

News

WWW Links

Agave Photos

Opuntia nicholii (Opuntia polyacantha Haw. var. nicholii [L. D. Benson] B. D. Parfitt)

Opuntia nicholii is not commonly encountered, occurring in isolated locations of northern Arizona and adjacent southern Utah. The plants can be large and sprawling, stretching up to 10 feet or more across. Most areoles have spines, and the major spines can be 2-6 inches in length, though many are shorther than 5 inches.

Like O. polyacantha, the fruits of O. nicholii are dry at maturity. Even though the plants can be large, O. nicholii is typically considered a variety of (the generally smaller) O. polyacantha, rather than a distinct species. The plants are very spiny.

One place to find O. nicholii (without a 4-wheel drive vehicle) is just south of the Navajo Bridge across the Colorado River in northern Arizona (Marble Canyon). The general area of the Navajo Bridge is far from freeways, and it will take a bit of driving to reach that area from more populated places. However, O. nicholii can be found east and south of the Navajo Bridge, on Highway 89 in Arizona.

Opuntia nicholii, near Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Arizona, 2009 (a small camera [rear] serves as a size gauge)	Opuntia nicholii, near Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Arizona, 2009 (a small camera in the foreground [left] serves as a size guage)	Opuntia nicholii, near Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Arizona, 2009
Large Opuntia polyacantha-like, House Rock Valley (not far from Marble Canyon), Arizona, 2009 (Opuntia nicholii?)	Large Opuntia polyacantha-like, House Rock Valley (not far from Marble Canyon), Arizona, 2009 (Opuntia nicholii?)	Large Opuntia polyacantha-like, House Rock Valley (not far from Marble Canyon), Arizona, 2009 (Opuntia nicholii?)
Large Opuntia polyacantha-like, House Rock Valley (not far from Marble Canyon), Arizona, 2009 (Opuntia nicholii?)