Opuntia robusta

Opuntia robusta, the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of cactus in the family Cactaceae.[1] It is native and endemic to central and northern Mexico to within 100 miles (160 km) of the Arizona and New Mexico borders where it grow from 5,000 to 10,000 feet (1,500 to 3,000 m) on rocky slopes, open shrub lands, woodlands and mixed with other cactus and succulents.

Opuntia robusta
Opuntia robusta growth form.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. robusta
Binomial name
Opuntia robusta

Description

Plants are commonly around 1 m (40 in) high, though they may grow to over 3 m (10 ft) high when supported.[2]

The flattened stem segments are fleshy, round and blue-grey in colour.[2] These are up to 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter and have the length of sharp spines up to 5 cm (2 in).[2] Yellow, sessile flowers with a fleshy base are produced on the edges of the upper stem segments.[2] These are followed by barrel-shaped fleshy fruits which are pink or purple and up to 8 cm (3 in) long.[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1837 in Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum hucusque Cognitarum.[1] It has naturalised in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in Australia.[1][3]

Images
  • Opuntia robusta flower.
  • Opuntia robusta stem segment and immature fruit.

References
  1. "Opuntia robusta". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. Parsons, W.T. (1981). Noxious Weeds of Victoria. Australia: Inkata Press. ISBN 0909605009.
  3. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Opuntia~robusta
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