purple

These are Opuntias with purple pads when stressed or in winter. Not all specimens have purple pads, and it is important to grow the right clone.

Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Sonoran Purple Pricklypear

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(Weber) Ferguson, Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 60: 159, 1988 Isotype; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium Original Description What is Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana? O. chlorotica gosseliniana is one of three varieties along with vars chlorotica and santa-rita within the O. chlorotica complex as described by Ferguson (1988). The three types blend into […]

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Opuntia mojavensis

Opuntia mojavensis, Mojave Pricklypear

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Engelmann & Bigelow, Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 3: 293, 1856 Lectotype; Herbarium (O. mojavensis-like); Herbarium (O. mojavensis-like); Herbarium (O. mojavensis-like); Drawing (The Botany of the Expedition, 1856) Original Description What is Opuntia mojavensis? Opuntia mojavensis is an enigmatic prickly pear cactus. The only historical drawing of this cactus shows 2

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Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita

Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, Santa-Rita Purple Pricklypear

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Griffiths & Hare, New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 60: 64, 1906 Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium Original Description What is Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita? Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita is one of three varieties of the prickly pear cactus in the Opuntia chlorotica complex. The varieties are santa-rita, gosseliniana, and chlorotica (Ferguson 1988),

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Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia macrocentra, Black-spine Pricklypear

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Engelmann, Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 3: 292, 1856 [1857] Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium (as O. violaceae macrocentra); Herbarium (as O. violaceae macrocentra); Herbarium (O. macrocentra minor); Herbarium (O. macrocentra minor); Herbarium (O. macrocentra minor) Original Description What is Opuntia macrocentra? Opuntia macrocentra

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Opuntia gilvescens

Opuntia gilvescens, Bajada Pricklypear

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Griffiths, Annual Report of the Missouri Botanical Garden 20: 87, 1909 Holotype (as O. gilvescens); Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium;  Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium. Except where indicated, all specimens were originally interpreted as O. phaeacantha.  O. gilvescens is related to O. camanchica O. gilvescens is related to O. phaeacantha Original Description What is

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Opuntia charlestonensis

Opuntia charlestonensis, Mt. Charleston Pricklypear

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Clokey, Madrono 7(3): 71, 1943 Isotype; Isotype; Isotype; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium Original Description What is Opuntia charlestonensis? Opuntia charlestonensis is a prickly pear cactus that occurs from about 6,000 to 8,000 ft in Kyle Canyon on Mt Charleston, Nevada. It is proposed to be a hybrid taxon derived from two species, O. phaeacantha and O.

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Opuntia basilaris ramosa

Opuntia basilaris, Beavertail Cactus

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Engelmann & Bigelow, Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 3: 298, 1856   Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Holotype (O. basilaris brachyclada); Herbarium (O.  basilaris brachyclada); Herbarium (O. basilaris brachyclada); Herbarium (O. basilaris brachyclada); Herbarium (O. basilaris longiareolata); Herbarium (O. basilaris longiareolata) Herbarium (O. basilaris longiareolata); Herbarium (O. basilaris longiareolata); Isolectotype (O. basilaris ramosa);  Herbarium (O. basilaris ramosa); Herbarium (O.

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Opuntia azurea

Opuntia azurea, Purple Pricklypear

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Rose, Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 12(7): 291, 1909 Holotype; Isotype; Isotype; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium (O. azurea diplopurpurea); Holotype; (O. azurea diplopurpurea); Holotype (O. azurea discolor); Herbarium (O. azurea discolor); Herbarium (O. azurea parva); Herbarium (O. azurea parva); Herbarium (O. azurea parva); Herbarium (O. azurea parva); Painting (possible O. azurea) See O. chisosensis See O. macrocentra Original Description What

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Opuntia aurea, Zion Beavertail Cactus

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Baxter, Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 5(6): 489, 1933 Holotype; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium; Herbarium Original Description What is Opuntia aurea? Opuntia aurea is a prostrate, sprawling species of prickly pear cactus native to southern Utah and extreme northern Arizona. Plants typically form irregular mats reaching up

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