These prickly pear cacti may reach 1 m tall (usually shorter), and are almost always tinted with pink or purple or bluish purple. Like O.chloroticachlorotica, O.chlorotica gosseliniana has needle-like spines on older trunks and branches. Unlike O.chloroticachlorotica, O.chlorotica gosseliniana can form multiple ascending branches. This Opuntia variety may have spines in most areoles, only in upper areoles, or in none at all. The slender spines vary from relatively short and stiff to long and flexible, up to 10 cm. Additionally, the spine color varies from cream to bright yellow and through shades of orange- and reddish-brown to nearly black.
Flowers are generally yellow from bluntly pointed buds. The stigma lobes are generally pale. Flowers are 5-7.5 cm across. Fruit is elliptical to cyclindrical. This variety has smaller and relatively more slender fruit than vars chlorotica and santa-rita.
This prickly pear is native to Mexico, and it barely reaches into the United States in far southern Arizona on land of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Thus is is a very uncommon Opuntia in the United States.
Opuntiamojavensis is an enigmatic prickly pear cactus. The only historical drawing of this cactus shows 2 spine clusters and an immature or sterile fruit. The herbarium sheet (lectotype) for this prickly pear also has limited material.
Details
O.mojavensis forms wood-stiff plants sprawling to 2 m across. In overall aspect, O.mojavensis resembles a double-sized O.phaeacantha but with distinctly angular branches caused by its woody nature. Cladodes are irregular in size and generally obovate. The spines seem similar to those of the lectotype as well as in the drawing above. However, spination is irregular and there are 0-2(5) spines per areole, even on the same pad. Plants may turn a pleasing red-purple color in winter.
Flowers are 5-8 cm across and yellow with distinct red centers, green stigmas, and yellow anthers. Outer tepals are tinged with red or red-orange. Fruit is red (no purple) and may be barrel-shaped.
We observed a population of plants growing at the summit of Mt Potosi (Highway 160 summit) near Las Vegas, Nevada that we interpret be O.mojavensis. We base our description on that population, and the photographs presented here show plants from that population. The original location (mountains above Victorville, CA) matches the Mt Potosi location in general terms of plant companions and altitude but is about 150 miles west of Mt. Potosi. Thus, we envision O.mojavensis as a species of high elevations west of Arizona and across the Mojave Desert. More study is needed. See the original description. Ploidy is unknown.
Because of its attractive flowers, angular growth shape, and cold hardiness, O.mojavensis would be interesting in a garden. However, it is a large sprawling plant.
Apache plume growing with Opuntia mojavensis
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis in flower, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, 4500 ft, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, fruit, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, fruit, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, fruit, Mt. Pososi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, near Las Vegas, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Mt. Potosi, NV
Opuntia mojavensis, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NV
Opuntiachloroticasanta-rita is one of three varieties of the prickly pear cactus, Opuntiachlorotica. The varieties are santa-rita, gosseliniana, and chlorotica (Ferguson 1988). Santa rita is the most handsome.
Details
O.chloroticasanta-rita is an upright, open-branching cactus to 1.5 m with a distinct trunk (sometimes two trunks) up to 15 cm across. The cladodes are suborbicular, orbicular, or rarely obovate or even pointed. Cladodes are about 12 to 18 cm across with a bluish or purplish cast. Some individuals are strongly colored. Spines are absent in this Opuntia, or there may be 1(3) per in a few areoles at the tips of the cladodes. If spines are present they are yellow to reddish-brown or sometimes darker, and 2-3 cm long.
Britton and Rose described the flowers of this Opuntia as very handsome, deep yellow, and 6 to 9 cm across. The filaments and style are white, and the stigma is white or yellow. The fruit is oval and depressed at the apex; it is purple outwardly and greenish within and pleasant to taste.
Britton and Rose reported that the type locality of this Opuntia is the Celero Mts [Salero Mt?] of AZ. It was also described from the Santa Rita Mountains. Britton and Rose also reported that, “All gradations of spine characters may be found between this and the typical, very spiny Opuntiachlorotica.”
O.chloroticasanta-rita is a sumptuous and large garden plant. Its coloration alone makes it valuable, and the large, colorful flowers are a bonus. Cold-hardiness seems likely to be moderate (USDA climate zone 7?).
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita flowers, Michael McNulty
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita flowers, Michael McNulty
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita flowers, Michael McNulty
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita flowers, Michael McNulty
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, Alan Schmierer
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, Alan Schmierer
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, D Griffiths, ca. 1910
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, exceptional close-up of new cladode, Michael Newberry
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita, exceptional close-up of new cladode, Michael Newberry
Opuntiamacrocentra is a much-grown and much-enjoyed prickly pear cactus found in western gardens. It is related to O.azurea.
Details
From Powell and Weedin:
O.macrocentra plants are spreading to upright plants, 30-60 cm tall or taller. Cladodes are obovate to orbicular, 10-20×10-20 cm, or the pads are slightly wider than long. Spines may be produced on the upper one-fourth of the pad or only in the upper edge areoles. Occasionally, plants may be essentially spineless. The largest spines are often directed upwards. Spines are black to reddish-brown and 5-10 cm long.
Flowers have sharply defined, bright red centers that may be star shaped. They are 6-8 cm long and 5.5-8 cm wide. The filaments are about 1.5 cm, pale green proximally and cream-colored distally. Anthers are yellow. The style is cream-colored and 1.7-2 cm long. The stigma lobes are cream-colored or pale green. The reddish fruit is oboviod, ovoid, or ellipsoid, 3-4.3 cm long, 1.5-3 cm in diameter, and deeply concave. The rind is purple and the juice and pulp are pale-purple to clear. Seeds are flattened, tan, 3.4-4.5 mm in diameter, 1.5-1.9 mm thick with a broad notch on one side and a prominent raphae.
O.macrocentra has been confused with O.chloroticasanta-rita and O.azurea, but the three cacti are distinct. It is unfortunate that O.macrocentra was sometimes mislabeled as a prickly pear variety of O. violaceae because O. violaceae is a nonexistent species. Britton and Rose reported that specimens with bluish pads can be especially showy. See the original description. O.macrocentra may be tetraploid or diploid. O.macrocentra minor has been described, and it is diploid (see Powell and Weedin).
O.macrocentra is an excellent garden plant in many climates. Its striking color and beautiful flowers are impressive. It is easy to grow in USDA climate zone and warmer if the climate is not to wet.
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra, ca. 100 years ago, A. Shantz
Opuntia macrocentra, Dell City, TX
Opuntia macrocentra, Dell City, TX
Opuntia macrocentra, garden plant
Opuntia macrocentra, garden plant
Opuntia macrocentra, Luc
Opuntia macrocentra, Post, TX, Derrill Pope
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntia macrocentra, Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, Albuquerque, NM
Opuntiagilvescens is a widespread, medium-sized cactus. It occurs from Oklahoma all the way to central Arizona and southern Nevada. It is often confused with O.phaeacantha, in part because there is no slot for it in most guidebooks.
Details
The authors have found it in OK (Arbuckle Mountains and west), in western TX, in many parts of NM as well as in AZ, southern portions of NV, UT, and CO, and in the mountains of the eastern CA Mojave Desert. Similar-appearing prickly pears have been found in the mountains east of Palm Springs, CA.
O.gilvescens has round or obovate cladodes that are generally dull. Main branches rest upon the ground and other branches rise to 70-80 cm. O.gilvescens is often a symmetrical plant. Mature plants may be 1 m across Cladodes may be 20 × 25 cm, but they are often smaller. Spines are not numberous, often there are only 2 major spines, but there may be 1-4 on first-year growth. The tips of spines are translucent.
Stigmas are green, pale green, or yellow-green. Anthers are yellow or cream-colored. Filaments are yellow but can darken towards the base. Many O.gilvescens flowers have a blush of red at the bases of the interior tepals, but some individuals may have rust-colored veining that can darken or spread as the flower ages. Cacti with all-yellow flowers may be found. Also, some cacti have pink flowers as in parts of southern UT. Fruit is round-bottomed or barrel shaped, but may occasionally have a narrow base, ripening to pink, reddish, or even greenish-pink. Flesh is greenish or pink-green, sometimes dark. Seeds are about .75 cm across with a 1 mm rim.
Plants from southwest NM and adjacent AZ are often pale; sometimes they have rhombic or more elongate joints and pale spines. Plants from the Mojave Desert area often have round pads with fewer than average areoles and a few pale spines. Plants from the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico and into central Texas are often dark in appearance; they may become strongly red-purple in winter and the spines can be black.
In central New Mexico, O.gilvescens fits the type description well. Some southern populations, such as populations on the east side of the Sandia Mountains and down into Socorro County, and again in the Alamogordo area, often have wide, curved pads creating an interesting potato chip look.
Opuntiacharlestonensis is a prickly pear cactus that occurs from about 6,000 to 8,000 ft on Mt Charleston, NV. It is proposed to be a hybrid cactus derived from two species, O.phaeacantha and O.polyacanthaerinacea.
Details
O.charlestonensis is sympatric with the two proposed parental Opuntias, but an O.dulcis-like Opuntia species also grows in Kyle canyon. This latter Opuntia has not been investigated as a possible parent.
Plants may be 20 to 40 cm tall and up to 1.5 m across. They are generally prostrate, but short branches of a few cladodes may arise from prostrate main branches. Cladodes are oval or obovate and 10-20 cm long and 7-14 cm wide. Cladodes may be strongly purple in the winter and spring. Spines (4-6) are light in color, and spreading in all directions.
O.charlestonensis has yellow or canary-yellow flowers that darken late on the day of anthesis; there may be a blush of red in the flower centers. Flowers are 4-5 cm across. Stamens and anthers are yellow as is the style and stigma. However, the style may be tinged with red. Fruit is oval and dull reddish-purple with a green pulp. Seeds are flat and 4-5 mm in diameter. Despite its pentaploid nature, it seems to reproduce locally, perhaps clonally.
This prickly pear was only known from Kyle Canyon on Mt. Charleston, NV. However, a 2014 record reported a population of this Opuntia in CA where it also seemed to be formed by hybridization. See the original description. O.charlestonensis is pentaploid.
Opuntia charlestonensis
Opuntia charlestonensis
Opuntia charlestonensis growing in rocky high-elevation soil
Opuntia charlestonensis growing in rocky high-elevation soil
Opuntia charlestonensis growing in rocky high-elevation soil
Opuntiabasilaris is a distinctive prickly pear cactus; it has the archetypical “beaver tail” look. The cladodes form dense clumps 15-30 cm tall and 30-100 cm across. The pads are blue-green and often wedge shaped or broadly obovate and (7)15-17(22) cm long.
Details
Often the cladodes of this prickly pear are fan shaped, but they may be oval, obovate or even elongate-obovate. The pads of the major variety of this Opuntia (var basilaris) arise from a single point and form an approximate rosette. The areoles are slightly sunken. This prickly pear has blue-green or gray-green pads that are distinctive and that may have hints of purple, or they may be entirely purple under stress. Though spineless, there are numerous small glochids to be avoided.
Flowers are magenta and about 7-8 cm across, very showy. Fruit is dry. They style is white or pinkish-white, and the stigma is white. Filaments are red, anthers are yellow. The seeds are large and thick (subspheric?) and angular. They measure 6.5-9 × 6.5-7 mm.
Native Americans used O.basilaris as a medicinal plant (Anderson, 2001). Perhaps there was some beneficial effect to ingesting the cactus because it contains 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine, a compound related to dopamine and mescaline.
There are at least 5 described varieties of this Opuntia that we recognize:
basilaris
brachyclada
longiareolata
ramosa
treleasei
Britton and Rose discuss several varieties that are not recognized here including: albiflora, coerulea, and nanna.
O.basilarisbasilaris is by far the most commonly encountered variety. All varieties of this prickly pear are spineless except var treleasei. Read the original description. O.basilaris is diploid, but O.basilaris treleasii is triploid and may represent a separate taxon.
O.basilaris is a favorite in gardens because of its unique shape, pad colors, and bright flowers. Some clones from higher altitudes are cold-hardy.
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris brachyclada
Opuntia basilaris brachyclada, John Weiser
Opuntia basilaris heilii, Nancy Hussey
Opuntia basilaris heilii, Nancy Hussey
Opuntia basilaris hybrid, AZ
Opuntia basilaris longiareolata, Desert Botanical Garden, AZ
Opuntia basilaris longiareolata, Desert Botanical Garden, AZ
Opuntiaazurea is an attractive prickly pear cactus from the Big Bend Region of Texas that is related to O.macrocentra. A full technical description of this Opuntia appears on page 130 of The Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas (Powell and Weedin, 2004).
Details
The cladodes are glaucous blue-green, and areoles are 1.2 to 1.6 cm apart. When mature, spines are black, unequal, and up to 2.5 cm long. Flowers are yellow with red centers, essentially identical to those of O.macrocentra. Stigmas are pale green. This Opuntia is a wide-ranging (into Mexico) and variable species. The Flora of North America does not recognize this taxon.
Powell and Weedin described five varieties of O.azurea.
aureispina
azurea
discolor
diplopurpurea A.M. Powell & J.F. Weedin
parva A.M. Powell & J.F. Weedin
We include a sixth possible variety of this prickly pear that is undescribed. We provisionally refer to it as O.azurea casteretti. Perhaps it is only a white-spined version of another Opuntia variety, O.azureadiplopurpurea. Powell and Weedin considered these white-spined plants to be variants of O.macrocentra and nothing more. See the original description. O.azurea is tetraploid or hexaploid depending upon the report. Perhaps (not sure) polidy varies with variety.
Depending upon the variety, the plant may be purple at the cladode base or may turn entirely purple in winter. Spines may be slender or robust. Also varieties are differentiated by height with some 1 m or taller and others less than 1 m. Additionally, cladode size may differentiate varieties.
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea
Opuntia azurea castetteri, Hueco Tanks State Park, TX
Opuntia azurea castetteri, Hueco Tanks State Park, TX
Opuntia azurea castetteri, Hueco Tanks State Park, TX
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea, Big Bend National Park, Michelle Cloud-Hughes
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea, Big Bend National Park, Michelle Cloud-Hughes
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea, Big Bend National Park, Michelle Cloud-Hughes
Opuntia azurea diplopurpurea, Big Bend National Park, Michelle Cloud-Hughes
Opuntiaaurea is a prickly pear cactus that grows in southern UT and northern AZ. It is prostrate and forms irregularly sprawling plants to about 1 m across. A single pad may grow upright now and then.
Details
The cladodes are often oval but may also be broadly obovate up to 10(15) cm long. Cladodes have a thick look and they may become pink or purple in winter. Areoles on this Opuntia may be slightly sunken. O.aurea may be spineless or may have a few spines to multiple spines. Spines may be in the distal areoles only or on the faces of the cladode too. Excessively spiny plants are presumed to represent introgression from adjacent species, including O.nicholii. Flowers are pale-yellow, yellow, apricot-pink, and even strongly pink. Seeds are often circular and up to 4 mm in diameter or a bit more. Fruits of this prickly pear typically have no spines, but there may sometimes be one or more at the apex.
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac'
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana 'Tubac', garden plant
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, cow's tongue, form, Wallace Botanical Gardens, Scottsdale, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Wallace Botanical Gardens, Scottsdale, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Wallace Botanical Gardens, Scottsdale, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Wallace Botanical Gardens, Scottsdale, AZ
Opuntia chlorotica gosseliniana, Wallace Botanical Gardens, Scottsdale, AZ
