Opuntiads of the USA

(by Joe Shaw and Dave Ferguson)

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Opuntia Country No. 1
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Opuntia Country No. 4
Opuntia Country No. 5

Opuntia Country with
Daiv Freeman

Northern Patagonia Cactus Trip

Opuntia woodsii Backeberg

Plants were observed in Rockville, UT, along Highway 9; in Toqueville, UT along Highway 17, or adjacent to Interstate 15 in the general Toquerville area. Plants were always observed in steeply drained locations or very rocky locations. Plants were woody and upright, but not tall. In some ways they resembled small O. engelmannii, especially those plants with rounder cladodes. Some plants had cladoes that were noticeably longer than wide.. Spines were white, gray, or pale tan. Flowerers were pale- or dark-salmon (not pure pink, not red).

Various authors (Web and otherwise) have indicated O. woodsii is synonymous with numerous other taxa including: Opuntia angustata, Opuntia arizonica, Opuntia camanchica, Opuntia canada, Opuntia engelmannii var. cycloides, Opuntia gilvescens, Opuntia mojavensis , Opuntia phaeacantha var. brunnea, Opuntia phaeacantha var. mojavensis, and Opuntia superbospina.

Whatever its true identity, O. woodsii is different from any form of O. phaecantha which is treated as a mostly prostrate, nonwoody species herein.

Opuntia woodsii, hiding in grass, Rockville, UT	Opuntia woodsii, in bud	Opuntia woodsii, very rocky soil, Rockville, UT
Opuntia woodsii, at base of small rocky cliff, Rockville, UT	Opuntia woodsii	Opuntia woodsii
Opuntia woodsii, garden plant		Close-up of plant in image at far left