Accepted Scientific Name: Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.
Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 206. 1850
Origin and Habitat: Texas (South-Central U.S.A., Northern America). Found in local colonies in sandy soil. Belen, Alameda, Pojoaque to Española, Moriarty, etc.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Opuntia macrorhiza
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.Boston J. Nat. Hist. 6: 206. 1850Synonymy: 12
Accepted name in llifle Database:Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & MandujanoCactaceae Syst. Init. 16: 18 18 2003.Synonymy: 2
Accepted name in llifle Database:Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & MandujanoCactaceae Syst. Init. 16: 18 18 2003.Synonymy: 11
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Description: Plants form spreading mats of chains of joints, rooting where they touch soil. Without tuberous central taproot.
Stems segments: Joints with mostly six or fewer areoles per diagonal row across
joint.
Leaves: Usually bluish-green and over 7 mm long.
Spines: Mostly three or fewer per areole, mostly only in upper areoles.
Flowers: Usually pale yellow, often red in center, petals usually spreading widely.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Opuntia macrorhiza group
- Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.: has only moderately glaucous stem segments that may reach 10 cm in length and diameter and basically yellow flowers.
- Opuntia macrorhiza subs. potosina (Hern.-Valencia) U.Guzmán & Mandujano
Opuntia macrorhiza subs. pottsii (Salm-Dyck) U.Guzmán & Mandujano: has very glaucous compact stem segments reaching 5-6 cm in length and diameter, longer than wide, and distinctly stipitate. It is easily distinguished from other varieties of O. macrorhiza by its red flowers (as opposed to yellow), and very slender spines.- Opuntia pottsii var. montana n.n.: (subsp. pottsii) Joints mostly wider than long. Spines usually white. Fruit mostly chunky and short, usually pinkish. Distribution: Areas of conifer or oak woodland above 1,800 m, occasional in grasslands at lower elevations.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) David J. Ferguson “Keys to the identity of cacti of the Albuquerque & Santa Fe area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Torrance, and Valencia Counties)” November 1993 (updated May18, 2012)
