Opuntia cochenillifera

Last updated

Opuntia cochenillifera
Opuntia cochenillifera, Kumasi, Ghana - 20080318.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. cochenillifera
Binomial name
Opuntia cochenillifera
(L.) Mill., 1768
Synonyms
Opuntia nuda
Nopalea nuda
Nopalea cochenillifera
Cactus cochenilliferus
Cactus cochenillifera
Cactus cochenilifer

Opuntia cochenillifera is a species of cactus in the subfamily Opuntioideae. It may have been endemic to Mexico, but has been widely introduced. [1] [2] The first description was in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus as Cactus cochenillifer. Philip Miller renamed it as Opuntia cochenillifera in 1768.

Contents

Ecology

Unlike most Opuntia species, O. cochenillifera is pollinated by hummingbirds. [3] [4]

Flower Opuntia cochinellifera01.JPG
Flower

References

  1. 1 2 Arreola, H.; Ishiki, M.; Terrazas, T. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Nopalea cochenillifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T152027A121518289. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152027A121518289.en . Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. Gamble, J. S.; Gamble, J. S. (1915). Flora of the Presidency of Madras. Vol. 1. London: West, Newman and Adlard. p. 548.
  3. J.A. Reyes-Agüero, J.R. Aguirre R., A. Valiente-Banuet (2006) Reproductive biology of Opuntia: A review. Journal of Arid Environments 64(4):549-585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.06.018
  4. Flora of the Southeastern United States