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Published In: The Gardeners Dictionary...Abridged...fourth edition 2:. 1754. (Gard. Dict. Abr. (ed. 4)) Name publication detailView in Biodiversity Heritage Library
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 10/9/2022)
Acceptance : Accepted
Project Data     (Last Modified On 10/9/2022)
Contributor Text: Roohi Abid & Anjum Perveen
Contributor Institution: Centre for Plant Conservation, University of Karachi – Pakistan
Synonym Text:

Consolea Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862:174. 1862; Tephrocactus Lem., Cactees Histoire, Patrie Organes de Veget, inflorescence culture 88. 1868; Maihueniopsis Speg. in An. Soc. Ci. Argent. Xcix. 86. 1925; Brasiliopuntia (Schumann) A. Berger, Dic Entwicklungslinien der Kakteen, 18: 94. 1926; Corynopuntia Knuth in Backeb & Knuth, Kaktus ABC, 114. 410. 1935; Cylindropuntia (Engelm.) Knuth in Backeb & Knuth, Kaktus ABC,117, 410. 1935; Austrocylindropuntia C. Backeb. in Blätt., Kakteenforsch, 6: 3. 1938; in clavis. p. 21. 1938; Marenopuntia Backeb., Desert Pl. Life 22: 27. 1950; Platyopuntia (Engelm.) F. Ritter Kakteen in Südamerika, 1: 31. 1979; Cumulopuntia F. Ritter, Kakteen in Südamerika 2: 399. 1980; Puna Kiesling in Hickenia, 1: 289. 1982.


 

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Succulent shrubs or small trees, erect or spreading, usually much branched, sometimes forming clumps or mats. Stem segmented, segments green, sometimes reddish to purple, usually flattened, cylindrical, columnar, compressed, subglobose obovate, smooth to tuberculate, glabrous to pubescent. Areoles woolly, wool gray, tan to brown with 0 – 15 spines per areole, sometimes setose with hair – like bristles . Glochids present at the margins of areoles. Leaves usually small, scaly, subulate to conic or cylindrical, caducous. Flower bisexual, sessile, subterminal or lateral, solitary on each areole, conspicuous. Hypanthium obovoid, truncate and depressed apically. Perianth rotate, spreading or erect, slightly zygomorphic, outer tepals green to yellow, inner ones pale yellow to orange, pink to red, rarely white, nectar chamber simple, open not covered by proximal thickening. Stamens many, filaments greenish to yellow, anthers pale yellow to yellow, much shorter than perianth, inserted on the apex of hypanthium. Style usually thick, often more or less expanded near base. Stigma 5-10. Ovary inferior. Placentation parietal. Ovule numerous. Fruit fleshy or dry, a berry, with spine bearing areoles or naked, globose or ovoid, umbilicate. Seeds usually numerous, enclosed in expanded funicles, circular to broadly oval or angular, 3 – 9 mm long, aril surface bony, trachomatous (1-4 large depression), pale, hilum basal.

A large genus of about 200 species, distributed throughout America, from S. Canada to Patagonia (Argentina). Introduced in various regions of the world including Australia, South Africa, Europe and Asia. Represented in Pakistan by 3 introduced/ cultivated species of which 2 species are naturalized.

 

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1.

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Shrubs sprawling or erect, 1 – 1.5 (- 2) m tall. Trunk absent, if present very small. Stigma and style of same colour (yellowish).

 

 

 

 

3. O. stricta

 

Trees 2 - 6 m tall, trunk (15-) 30 – 40 cm in diameter. Stigma and style of different colour.

 

 

 

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Segments dull green or grayish. Usually without spines, rarely with 1-5, white, tan or brown spines. Glochids yellow. Filaments and anthers yellow. Stamens 7.5 – 8 mm long. Fruits yellow, orange or purplish not depressed at the apex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. O. ficus-indica

 

Segments glossy green. Usually with grayish to reddish brown spines, with dark brown tips. Glochids brownish. Filaments greenish, anthers pale yellow. Stamens ca. 13 mm long. Fruit reddish-purple, deeply depressed at the apex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. O. monacantha

 
 
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