- Source: Opuntia gosseliniana
Opuntia gosseliniana, commonly known as the violet pricklypear, is a species of cactus that is native to Pima County, Arizona in the United States and Baja California, Chihuahua, and Sonora in Mexico.
Like most prickly pears, the pads are flat. Unlike most prickly pears, they have a violet, pink, or red tinge, hence the name. The cactus reaches mature heights of one to five feet and blooms either yellow or red.
Taxonomy
Different authorities disagree on the division of plants into Opuntia chlorotica, Opuntia violacea, Opuntia gosseliniana, Opuntia macrocentra, and perhaps others. To complicate the issue, there are numerous natural hybrids between species.
= Synonyms
=Opuntia chlorotica Engelm. & Bigelow var. gosseliniana (A. Weber) Ferguson
Opuntia violacea Engelm. var. gosseliniana (A. Weber) L. Benson
Opuntia chlorotica Engelm. & Bigelow var. santa-rita Griffiths
= Varieties
=O. gosseliniana var. duraznilla
O. gosseliniana var. santa-rita (also known as Opuntia santa-rita)
Distribution
The above-mentioned taxonomic issues complicate any attempt to describe the distribution of particular varieties or species. O. gosseliniana is especially known from Mexico, but has been reported from Arizona.
References
Opuntia santa-rita occurs in Arizona while O. gosseliniana occurs only in Mexico. Field Guide to Caccti and other Succulents of Arizona. 2015 (3rd Edition, 2020).
External links
Wikispecies Page
USDA PLANTS Profile for Opuntia gosseliniana
USDA PLANTS Profile for Opuntia santa-rita
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Opuntia
- Opuntia gosseliniana
- List of Opuntia species
- Opuntia setispina
- List of least concern plants
- List of flora of the Sonoran Desert Region by common name
