Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis
Madroño 35: 347. 1988.
Common names: Cow’s tongue pricklypear
Basionym: Opuntia linguiformis Griffiths Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 19: 270, plate 27 (lower). 1908
Synonyms: Opuntia lindheimeri var. linguiformis (Griffiths) L. D. Benson
Stem segments lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, becoming very elongate, often falcate, 35–120+ × 8–17.5 cm, 2+ times longer than wide. Spines 0–3 per areole, absent or irregularly to regularly arranged at most distal areoles, yellow, aging blackish, longest 12–30 mm. 2n = 66.
Phenology: Flowering spring (Apr–May).
Habitat: Deserts
Elevation: 100-600 m
Distribution
Ariz., Tex., Mexico (Coahuila).
Discussion
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis is widely cultivated, at times escaping and becoming established in native desert vegetation. It was questionably reported to be native in Bexar County, Texas (D. Weniger 1984).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.