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CACTACEAE

CACTUS FAMILY

Edward F. Anderson (except Opuntia)

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 8:85–107]

CARNEGIEA

SAGUARO

Tree
Stem erect, 3–16 m, 30–75 cm diam, cylindric, generally few-branched; ribs 12–30, prominent; tubercles indistinct; spines 15–30, ± dense, spreading, gray
Flower 5–6 cm diam, nocturnal; perianth creamy white
Fruit scaly, 25–45 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, 1835–1919)

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