Opuntia macrocentra Engelm.
Long-spined prickly pear, black spine prickly pear, purple pricklypear
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Caryophyllidae Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order Caryophyllales Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family Cactaceae Succulent (water-storing) plants, often spiny
Genus Opuntia Prickly pears
Species macrocentra From ancient Greek μακρός (makrós, “long”); and centra, “spine”
About plant names...
The long-spined prickly pear is native to Texas, New Mexico, eastern Arizona, and northern Mexico.
Identification: Stem segments are bluish green, and pads
on more mature plants are tinged with purple. Sometimes has no spines, or groups of up to 15. Spines are up to 7″ (17 cm) long! Longer spines are reddish brown to black (or rarely, yellow to red), turning whitish with age.
Flowers are yellow with red centers. See this Opuntia comparison table .
By Jodelet/Lépinay.
Online References:
Desert-tropicals.com
CactiGuide.com
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Sonoran Desert Digital Library
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
EFloras
References:
Bowers, Nora and Rick; Tekiela, Stan, Cactus of Arizona Field Guide , Adventure Publications Inc., 2008 , p. 135.
Opuntia macrocentra description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/11/2014 · American Southwest (AZ or TX) · By Jacquelyn Boyt
5/22/2009 · Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain
5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona · ≈ 3½ × 2½′ (116 × 77 cm)
1/15/1996 · Living Desert, near Carlsbad Cav, New Mexico · By Constance B. Kent ID is uncertain
5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona
5/21/2009 · Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona ID is uncertain
Range:
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