Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.

Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.
Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 206. 1850

Origin and Habitat: Texas (South-Central U.S.A., Northern America). Found in local colonies in sandy soil. Belen, Alameda, Pojoaque to Española, Moriarty, etc.

Synonyms:

Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.

Opuntia compressa var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) L.D.Benson
Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.

See all synonyms of Opuntia macrorhiza

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.
Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 206. 1850
Synonymy: 12

Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.

Opuntia compressa var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) L.D.Benson
Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.

Opuntia cymochila Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow

Opuntia mesacantha var. cymochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) J.M.Coult.
Opuntia rafinesquei var. cymochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) Engelm.
Opuntia rafinesquei f. cymochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow) Schelle
Opuntia tortispina subs. cymochila (Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow)

Opuntia mackensenii Rose
Opuntia plumbea Rose
Opuntia sphaerocarpa Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow
Opuntia tortispina Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & Mandujano
Cactaceae Syst. Init. 16: 18 18 2003.
Synonymy: 2

Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & Mandujano

Opuntia macrorhiza var. potosina Hern.-Valencia

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & Mandujano
Cactaceae Syst. Init. 16: 18 18 2003.
Synonymy: 11

Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & Mandujano

Opuntia macrorhiza var. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) L.D.Benson
Opuntia pottsii Salm-Dyck

Opuntia ballii Rose
Opuntia delicata Rose
Opuntia filipendula Engelm.
Opuntia pottsii var. montana n.n.

Opuntia cymochila var. montana Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow
Opuntia macrorhiza var. montana n.n.

Opuntia setispina Engelm. ex Salm-Dyck
Opuntia tenuispina Engelm. & J.M.Bigelow

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Description: Plants form spreading mats of chains of joints, rooting where they touch soil. Without tuberous central taproot.
Stems segments: Joints with mostly six or fewer areoles per diagonal row across
joint.
Leaves: Usually bluish-green and over 7 mm long.
Spines: Mostly three or fewer per areole, mostly only in upper areoles.
Flowers: Usually pale yellow, often red in center, petals usually spreading widely.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Opuntia macrorhiza group

Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.: has only moderately glaucous stem segments that may reach 10 cm in length and diameter and basically yellow flowers.
Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & Mandujano
Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & Mandujano: has very glaucous compact stem segments reaching 5-6 cm in length and diameter, longer than wide, and distinctly stipitate. It is easily distinguished from other varieties of O. macrorhiza by its red flowers (as opposed to yellow), and very slender spines.
Opuntia pottsii var. montana n.n.: (subsp. pottsii) Joints mostly wider than long. Spines usually white. Fruit mostly chunky and short, usually pinkish. Distribution: Areas of conifer or oak woodland above 1,800 m, occasional in grasslands at lower elevations.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) David J. Ferguson “Keys to the identity of cacti of the Albuquerque & Santa Fe area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Torrance, and Valencia Counties)” November 1993 (updated May18, 2012)

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Cite this page: "Opuntia mesacantha var. macrorhiza" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 01 Nov 2024. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/19888/Opuntia_mesacantha_var._macrorhiza>