Opuntiads of the USA

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Opuntia sanguinicola Griffiths

In some ways O. sanguinicola resembles a gracile form of O. gilvescens. However, O. sanguinicola appears to be a distinct species that prefers deep soils (limestone-derived) as opposed to the rocky soils preferred by O. gilvescens.

Spination varies with older spines being gray, and newer spines yellow changing to red-brown at the base. A few plants had dark (black) spines. Areoles had zero, one, or two spines, mostly short (less than one inch). Plants were not uncommon but were difficult to locate in winter because they tended to flop over (dehydration) in tall grass. Glochids were reddish when new but gray, tan, or white-gray with age.

In the region of Texas near Johnson City, Dripping Springs, and Austin, O. sanguinicola grows in association with O. lindheimeri, O. pyrocarpa, O. leptocaulis, O. macroriza, yucca rupicola, and various juniper species. O. sanguinicola was also found at Pedernales Fall State Park (TX).

O. sangunicola is yet another yellow-flowered Opuntia overlooked by most and, if seen, assumed to be O. phaeacantha or O. macrorhiza.

Opuntia sanguinicola, Travis County, TX (photos this row copyright Ed Utley, 2008)	Opuntia sanguinicola, April 2008, Travis County, TX, in heavy bud	Opuntia sanguicola, April 2008, in bud, Central Texas
Opuntia sanguinicola, Travis County, TX	Opuntia sanguinicola, Reimers Ranch Park, Travis County, TX, April 2008	Close-up of cladode on plant at immediate left, new growth Apri, 2008
Opuntia sanguinicola, April 2008, in bud	Opuntia sanguinicola, Travis County, TX, April 2008	Close-up of plant at immediate left
Opuntia sanguinicola, Travis County, TX, May 1, 2008 (photos this row by Ed Utley)	Opuntia sanguinicola, Travis County, TX, May 1, 2008	Close-up of cladode at immediate left
Echinocereus reichenbachii, Travis County, TX growing with O. sanguinicola, O. pyrocarpa, and O. leptocaulis	Opuntia sanguinicola showing heavy bud count	Second view of plant at immediate left
Opuntia sanguinicola, Pace Bend Park near Austin, TX	Opuntia sanguinicola with Nolina sp. (background), April 2008	Opuntia sanguinicola, close-up of plant at immediate left
Opuntia sanguinicola flowers on garden plant, Denmark (photos provided by Martin Tversted and Martin's Opuntiads)	Opuntia sanguincola, garden plant, Denmark	This nice photo of Opuntia sanguincila (pehraps near College Station, TX) was forwarded to the authors. The provenance and photographer are unknown. Identification of the original photographer would be helpful and credit could be given
All photos below were taken in winter 2008. Such plants are deydrated and have winter cladode colors: dull green, red-brown, or steel-green.
Opuntia sanguinicola, Dripping Springs, TX	Close-up of plant at left	Opuntia sanguinicola, red winter color, in grass
Distance view of Opuntia sanguincola in grass	Opuntia sanguinicola, dull green (green-brown) winter color	Close-up of plant at left
Opuntia sangunicola, dehydrated for winter	Opuntia sanguinicola, tan-red winter color	Opuntia sanguinicola
Close-up of cladode, Opuntia sanguinicola, showing gracile look of spines	Opuntia sanguinicola, Pedernales Falls State Park, TX	Close-up of plant at left, showing yellow spines darkening at base
Different view of plant in row above, right	Opuntia sangunicola, near Pedernales Falls State Park, TX	Close-up of plant at left
Close-up of nearly spineless cladode	Opuntia sanguinicola, spreading to about 5 ft across	Opuntia sanguinicola cladode, with gracile gray spines
Opuntia sanguinicola with long spines, spines slender and easily broken, darker than usual	Opuntia sanguinicola near Pedernales Falls State Park, TX	Opuntia macrorhiza, with O. sangunicola near Dripping Springs, TX
Opuntia sangunicola in grass, part of a large colony of 20-30 plants nearly unseen because of grass cover	Opuntia sanguinicola in grass, plants barely visible	Opuntia sanguinicola in grass, plants barely visible, such plants can appear as short plants of O. pyrocarpa