Opuntia robusta
| Opuntia robusta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Opuntia robusta growth form. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Opuntia |
| Species: | O. robusta |
| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia robusta J.C.Wendl. ex Pfeiff.[1] | |
Opuntia robusta, wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the Cactaceae family.[1] It is native and endemic to Mexico, North America.
Description
Plants are commonly around 1 metre high, though they may grow to over 3 metres-9 feet high when supported.[2]
The flattened stem segments are fleshy, round and blue-grey in colour.[2] These are up to 30 cm in diameter and have sharp spines up to 5 cm in length.[2] Yellow, sessile flowers with a fleshy base are produced on the edges of the upper stem segments.[2] These are followed by barrel-shaped fleshy fruits which are pink or purple and up to 8 cm long.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in 1837 in Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum hucusque Cognitarum.[1] It has naturalised in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in Australia.[1][3]
Images
Opuntia robusta flower.
Opuntia robusta stem segment and immature fruit.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Opuntia robusta". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Parsons, W.T. (1981). Noxious Weeds of Victoria. Australia: Inkata Press. ISBN 0909605009.
- ↑ http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~robusta