Baxter, Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 5(6): 489, 1933
Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium
Details
Opuntia aurea grows in southern UT and northern AZ. It is prostrate and forms irregularly sprawling plants to about 3-ft across. A single pad may grow upright now and then. The plants are spineless or have a few spines to multiple spines. Spines may be in the distal areoles only or on the sides of the pad too. Excessively spiny plants are presumed to represent introgression from adjacent species, including O. nicholii. The cladodes are often oval but may also be broadly obovate up to 4(6)-inches long. Cladodes have a thick look. Areoles may be slightly sunken. Flowers are pale-yellow, yellow, apricot-pink, and even magenta. Seeds are often circular and up to 1/3 inch in diameter or a bit more. Fruits typically have no spines, but may have one or more at the apex. See the original description. Opuntia aurea is hexaploid.
Opuntia aurea
Opuntia aurea
Opuntia aurea
Opuntia aurea
Opuntia aurea in habitat, UT
Opuntia aurea in habitat, UT
Opuntia aurea in habitat, UT
Opuntia aurea in habitat, UT
Opuntia aurea, Bryant Olsen
Opuntia aurea, Colorado City, AZ
Opuntia aurea, Colorado City, AZ
Opuntia aurea, east-entrance to Zion, Andrey-Zharkikh
Opuntia aurea, east-entrance to Zion, Andrey-Zharkikh
Opuntia aurea, east-entrance to Zion, Andrey-Zharkikh
Opuntia aurea, fairgrounds, Grand Junction, CO
Opuntia aurea, GA Cooper
Opuntia aurea, GA Cooper
Opuntia aurea, garden plant
Opuntia aurea, garden plant
Opuntia aurea, garden plant
Opuntia aurea, House Rock Valley Rd, southern UT
Opuntia aurea, House Rock Valley Rd, southern UT
Opuntia aurea, in habitat, Andrey Zharkikh
Opuntia aurea, Kane Co, UT, Andrey-Zharkikh
Opuntia aurea, northeast of St. George, UT
Opuntia aurea, northeast of St. George, UT
Opuntia aurea, Page, AZ
Opuntia aurea, Page, AZ
Opuntia aurea, Pipe Spring National Monument, UT, Nancy Hussey
Opuntia aurea, Pipe Spring National Monument, UT, Nancy Hussey
Opuntia aurea, Pipe Spring National Monument, UT, Nancy Hussey
Opuntia aurea, south of Mt Carmel Junction, UT
Opuntia aurea, southwest UT
Opuntia aurea, UT
Opuntia aurea, UT
Special thanks to the Cactus and Succulent Society Journal for permission to reproduce the original description.