Compilation
Opuntia phaeacantha

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Opuntia charlestonensis Clokey [family CACTACEAE ] Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. [family CACTACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
  • Opuntia dulcis
  • Opuntia laevis
  • Opuntia spinosibacca
  • Opuntia procumbens
  • Opuntia angustata
  • Opuntia charlestonensis
  • Opuntia phaeacantha
Common name
  • Engelmann’s pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • Brown-spined pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4

Flora

Entry for Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann var. engelmannii [family CACTACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 4,
Names
Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelmann var. engelmannii [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia dillei Griffiths [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia discata Griffiths [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia phaeacantha Engelmann var. discata (Griffiths) L. D. Benson & Walk ington [family CACTACEAE]
Treatment Author(s)
Donald J. Pinkava
Information
Stem segments circular to obovate to rhombic, 20–40 × 17–30 cm, to 1.5 times longer than wide. Spines (0–)1–5(–12) per areole, absent or at most areoles, chalky white, yellow when wetted, aging gray to black, usually with red-brown extreme bases, longest 20–50(–75) mm. 2n = 66.
Phenology
mar-may (spring), jun-jul (summer)
Altitude range
300–2700 m;
Distribution
Mexico.USA Ariz.USA Calif.USA Nev.USA N.Mex.USA Tex.USA Utah
Discussion
In Arizona, California, and New Mexico, Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii hybridizes with O. phaeacantha yielding numerous named and unnamed hexaploid forms, including O. wootonii Griffiths; the various intermediates have 2n = 66. Hybrid swarms occur in both Zion and Grand Canyon national parks; these plants were perhaps brought in to the parks by native peoples as a food source and they are associated with agaves also believed to have been imported.

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