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. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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, 515 cm, 212 cm diam, ovoid to cylindric; ribs 821, prominent; tubercles distinct; central spines 111, straight or hooked; radial spines generally 330, 630 mm, straight
Flower 2575 mm diam; perianth greenish yellow to magenta; ovary scaly
Fruit becoming dry, 625 mm, scaly
Seed reniform, tubercled, black
Species in genus: 19 species: sw US, Mex
Etymology: (Greek: hard cactus)
Native |
Stems generally 1, 1025 cm, 510 cm diam, ovoid to cylindric; ribs 1721; spines yellow or pink to reddish, central 48, radial 910
Flower 58 cm diam, greenish yellow, pink, or magenta
Fruit 715 mm, 35 mm diam; scales widely cordate, ciliate
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Granitic areas, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: 5001200 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Mojave Desert (Inyo Co.)
Distribution outside California: to sw Utah, nw Arizona
Flowering time: AprMay
Synonyms: Echinocactus j. Engelm.; Neolloydia j. (Engelm.) L.D. Benson
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN; DFCLT.