Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Opuntia heacockiae G. Arp Opuntia juniper ina Britton & Rose Opuntia polyacantha var. juniperina (Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow) L. D. Benson Opuntia polyacantha var. rufispina (Engelmann) J. M. Coulter Opuntia polyacantha var. trichophora Opuntia trichophora
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 147. Mentioned on page 144.

Stem segments broadly obovate to circular, (4–)8.5–12 × (4–)5.5–11 cm; areoles 6–11 per diagonal row across midstem segment, 6–13 mm apart. Spines in most areoles, of 2 kinds: major spines (0–)1–3(–5) per areole, ± deflexed to reflexed or porrect at stem segment apex, yellow-brown to gray, 20–35(–40) mm; minor spines 0–5 per areole, deflexed, white, 5–10(–16) mm, sometimes spines of basal and near basal areoles are long, flexible, curling. Fruits stout; areoles 12–28, most bearing (4–)6–15 spines, 5–10 mm. 2n = 22, 44.


Phenology: Flowering late spring.
Habitat: Grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, clay, sandy or gravelly soils
Elevation: 500-2000(-2800) m

Distribution

V4 284-distribution-map.gif

Alta., Sask., Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Kans., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

The morphotype, usually called Opuntia trichophora, has additional, curly, hairlike spines from areoles on older stem segments, but these plants occur sporadically throughout the range of O. polyacantha var. polyacantha from New Mexico to Wyoming.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Donald J. Pinkava +
Haworth +
Cactus ferox +
Alta. +, Sask. +, Ariz. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Kans. +, Mont. +, Nebr. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, N.Dak. +, Okla. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
500-2000(-2800) m +
Grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, clay, sandy or gravelly soils +
Flowering late spring. +
Suppl. Pl. Succ., +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Opuntia heacockiae +, Opuntia juniper +, Opuntia polyacantha var. juniperina +, Opuntia polyacantha var. rufispina +, Opuntia polyacantha var. trichophora +  and Opuntia trichophora +
Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha +
Opuntia polyacantha +
variety +