Difference between revisions of "Cylindropuntia tunicata"

(Lehmann) F. M. Knuth in C. Backeberg and F. M. Knuth

in C. Backeberg and F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, 126. 1935.

Common names: Sheathed cholla abrojo
Basionym: Cactus tunicatus Lehmann Nova Acta Phys. -Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 16: 319. 1832
Synonyms: Opuntia tunicata (Lehmann) Pfeiffer
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 110. Mentioned on page 105.
FNA>Volume Importer
FNA>Volume Importer
(No difference)

Revision as of 19:59, 24 September 2019

Shrubs, densely branched, 0.3–0.6 m. Stem segments easily detached, whorled or subwhorled, pale green to green, 5–20(–25) × 1.5–2.5 cm; tubercles very prominent, broad, 2–3 cm; areoles obdeltate, 4.5–8 × 2.5–5 mm; wool yellow-tan, aging gray. Spines 5–12 per areole, at most areoles, spreading, obscuring stems, yellow, acicular, larger ones 3–6 cm; sheaths persisting, yellow to tan, loosely fitting, 2–4 mm diam. Glochids in small adaxial tuft, pale yellow, 0.5–1.2 mm. Flowers: inner tepals yellow to yellow-green, spatulate, 15–20 mm, apiculate; filaments yellowish; anthers yellow; style green to reddish; stigma lobes yellow-green to green. Fruits usually sterile, not proliferating, yellow to yellow-green, often tinged red, top-shaped to clavate, 25–50 × 8–15 mm, pulpy, tuberculate, spineless or sometimes weakly spined; tubercles subequal; umbilicus 5–7 mm deep; areoles 32–40. Seeds light tan, ± obovate, to 2.5 × 2 mm; girdle smooth. 2n = 22.


Phenology: Flowering late spring (May–Jun).
Habitat: Chihuahuan Desert, sandy to gravelly substrates, usually calcareous slopes or alluvium
Elevation: 1500 m [2000-2300 m]

Distribution

V4 208-distribution-map.gif

Tex., Mexico, South America (Chile, Ecuador).

Discussion

Small plants of Cylindropuntia tunicata arising from fallen fruits or seeds consist of series of subspheric segments resembling club-chollas; those have been named Opuntia stapeliae de Candolle (N. L. Britton and J. N. Rose 1919–1923, vol. 1). Apparently in some areas, few of these make it to maturity and larger young plants are rarely seen.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cylindropuntia tunicata"
Donald J. Pinkava +
(Lehmann) F. M. Knuth in C. Backeberg and F. M. Knuth +
Cactus tunicatus +
Sheathed cholla +  and abrojo +
Tex. +, Mexico +, South America (Chile +  and Ecuador). +
1500 m [2000-2300 m] +
Chihuahuan Desert, sandy to gravelly substrates, usually calcareous slopes or alluvium +
Flowering late spring (May–Jun). +
in C. Backeberg and F. M. Knuth, Kaktus-ABC, +
Opuntia tunicata +
Cylindropuntia tunicata +
Cylindropuntia +
species +