Micropuntia

Micropuntia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Micropuntia Daston [1]
Species:	M. pulchella
Binomial name
Micropuntia pulchella (Engelm.) M.P.Griff.
Synonyms [2]
List Corynopuntia pulchella(Engelm.) F.M.Knuth Grusonia pulchella(Engelm.) H.Rob. Micropuntia barkleyanaDaston Micropuntia brachyrhopalicaDaston Micropuntia gracilicylindricaE.F.Wiegand & Backeb. Micropuntia pulchella subsp. gracilicylindrica(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) Hochstätter Micropuntia pygmaeaE.F.Wiegand & Backeb. Micropuntia spectatissimaDaston Micropuntia tuberculosirhopalicaE.F.Wiegand & Backeb. Micropuntia wiegandiiBackeb. Opuntia barkleyana(Daston) G.D.Rowley Opuntia brachyrhopalica(Daston) G.D.Rowley Opuntia gracilicylindrica(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia pulchellaEngelm. Opuntia pygmaea(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia spectatissima(Daston) G.D.Rowley Opuntia tuberculosirhopalica(E.F.Wiegand & Backeb.) G.D.Rowley Opuntia wiegandii(Backeb.) G.D.Rowley

Micropuntia is a monotypic genus of cactus. Its only species is Micropuntia pulchella, ^[1] synonym Grusonia pulchella. ^[2] The species is also known as sagebrush cholla. It is a tuberous species of opuntioid cactus from the Great Basin Desert of central Nevada, eastern California and western Utah in the United States. ^{[3] [4]}

Habitat

Micropuntia pulchella grows in gravelly alluvial fans, often above salt flats or alkali basins. Specimens can be locally common, although they are difficult to locate, often growing under other shrubs such as shadscale. ^[5]

Description

Micropuntia pulchella differs from other North American opuntioid cacti in having a geophytic habit, where above-ground growth dies back to the crown in adverse conditions, and resprouts under more favorable conditions. Authors have described the underground storage structure as a "tuberous root" or true tuber. The above-ground stems are variable, being cylindrical to globular. The areoles bear flexible yellow spines and white wool. Overall, the above-ground growth can often form a cushion-plant habit. The flowers are bright magenta, and the fruits are dehiscent. The seeds are unique, with a groove running along the hilar surface. ^[6]

References

1. "Micropuntia Daston". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2024-12-31.
2. "Micropuntia pulchella (Engelm.) M.P.Griff." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 2024-12-31.
3. "Micropuntia barkleyana (Syn: Grusonia pulchella)".
4. Anderson 2001, p. 346
5. "Grusonia pulchella | Nevada Natural Heritage Program". heritage.nv.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-12-29.
6. Flora of North America, vol 4. 2004.

Bibliography

• Anderson, Edward F. (2001), The Cactus Family, Pentland, Oregon: Timber Press, ISBN   978-0-88192-498-5