Xerophyte

Description

Consolea falcataSN|9724]]SN|9724]] is a treelike cactus with very dark, glossy green upright, arms, to 1.5 m high. The flattened pads are much longer than they are wide, with only a modest number of spines if there are any at all. Hunt et al. (2006) treated this taxon as being synonymous with Consolea macracantha (Griseb.) A.Berger. It is considered a good species here.

Stem Segments

Somewhat elongated, to 35 cm long and 9 cm wide, sometimes sickle shaped, the surfaces occasionally with small prominences (scarcely tuberculate) but not reticulate. Young segments are dark glossy green, older ones may be covered with a light pruinose surface.

Note

The epithet 'facata' is formed from the Latin 'falx', a sickle or sickle-shaped instrument, and the possessive adjectival suffix '-atus'. Refers to the shape of the cladodes. Sickleshaped Opuntia.

Flowers

Reddish, 2-5 cm in diameter, diurnal.

Chromosome Number

4n = 88. Consolea falcataSN|9724]]SN|9724]], an octoploid (n = 11)

Spines

2-8 or (usually) absent, needle-like, rough, yellowish to pale brown, 1-4 cm long, but with glochids of course.