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 |
Stem 1, 1025 cm, 58 cm diam, cylindric; ribs 1317; central spines 911, all but 12 hooked, red-brown or white; radial spines 1015, white
Flower 46 cm diam, rose-purple to magenta
Fruit 2030 mm, 1520 mm diam; scales narrow, ciliate near tip
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Limestone areas, hills and canyons, creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: 7502100 m.
Bioregional distribution: White and Inyo Mountains, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: Nevada
Flowering time: AprJun
Synonyms: Echinocactus p. Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN; DFCLT.