TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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]
Stem generally 1, < 3 m, 2035 cm diam, depressed-spheric to columnar; ribs 1527; tubercles inconspicuous; spines dense
Flower 36 cm diam; tube poorly developed; ring of hairs separating perianth and stamens; ovary densely scaly
Fruit 12 cm diam, scaly, generally yellow, opening by a pore near base
Seed 1.53 mm, black, pitted; scar basal
Species in genus: 23 species: sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Latin: fierce cactus)
Reference: [Taylor 1984 Bradleya 2:1938]