Compilation
Opuntia polyacantha

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Name

Identification
Opuntia polyacantha Not on sheet [family CACTACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by B.D. Parfitt, 1991 (ASU), Opuntia arenaria Engelm. [family CACTACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Opuntia polyacantha Haw. [family CACTACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Opuntia arenaria Engelm. [family CACTACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
  • Opuntia arenaria
  • Opuntia sphaerocarpa
  • Opuntia missouriensis
  • Opuntia polyacantha
Common name
  • Sand pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • Mojave pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • grizzly bear pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • Navajo Bridge pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • Porcupine pricklypear, Flora of North America Vol. 4

Flora

Entry for Opuntia polyacantha Haworth var. polyacantha [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 polyacantha Haworth var. polyacantha [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia heacockiae G. Arp [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia juniper ina Britton & Rose [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia polyacantha var. juniperina (Britton & Rose) L. D. Benson [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia polyacantha var. rufispina (Engelmann & J. M. Bigelow) L. D. Benson [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia polyacantha var. trichophora (Engelmann) J. M. Coulter [family CACTACEAE]
Opuntia trichophora Engelmann [family CACTACEAE]
Treatment Author(s)
Donald J. Pinkava
Information
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
late spring
Altitude range
500–2000(–2800) m;
Distribution
USA Ariz.USA Colo.USA IdahoUSA Kans.USA Mont.USA Nebr.USA Nev.USA N.Mex.USA N.Dak.USA Okla.USA S.Dak.USA Tex.USA UtahUSA Wyo.Canada Alta.Canada Sask.
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.

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