TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
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Perennial, shrub, tree, generally fleshy
Stem cylindric, spheric, or flat; surface smooth, tubercled, or ribbed (fluted); nodal areoles bear flowers, generally bear spines from center ("central spines") and margin ("radial spines") (Opuntia areoles bear small, barbed, deciduous bristles sometimes called glochids, generally also bear spines)
Leaf generally 0
Flower generally solitary, bisexual, sessile, ± radial; perianth parts generally many, grading from scale-like to petal-like; stamens many; ovary appearing inferior, ± submerged in stem, so generally with areoles on surface, style 1, stigma lobes generally many
Fruit generally fleshy, generally indehiscent, spiny, scaly, or smooth
Seeds many
Genera in family: 93 genera, ± 2000 species: especially Am deserts; many cultivated
Etymology: (Greek: thorny plant)
Reference: [Benson 1982 Cacti of US & Can; Hunt & Taylor eds 1990 Bradleya 8:85107]
Tree
Stem erect, 316 m, 3075 cm diam, cylindric, generally few-branched; ribs 1230, prominent; tubercles indistinct; spines 1530, ± dense, spreading, gray
Flower 56 cm diam, nocturnal; perianth creamy white
Fruit scaly, 2545 mm diam, obovoid, dehiscing vertically, red, edible
Seed 2 mm, obovoid, black
Species in genus: 1 species: CA, AZ, Mex
Etymology: (Andrew Carnegie, Am industrialist, philanthropist, 18351919)