Xerophyte

Leaves

Acicular, awl-shapedup to 7 mm long, ephemeral.

Description

Opuntia engelmannii subs. aciculataSN|19915]]SN|19915]] is a flattened-padded succulent, forming large, hemispherical, bushy clumps up to 60-90 (or more tall) cm tall and 100-300 cm wide. The lower branches decumbent and sending up erect branches.

Flowers

Golden yellow, diameter 8-10 cm. Several sources report the flowers as being 'yellow'. But the plant in cultivation usually has bright red-orange flowers, and sometimes the centre is greenish. Petals broad rounded or retuse, filaments yellowish. Stigma dull yellowish with 8-10 green lobes.

Glochids

Numerous, 3-12 mm long, acicular, slender, spreading, forming a dense cluster, golden yellow to dark red, thin, long, from all part of the areoles, persisting for several years.

Blooming Season

Early summer.

Spines

1-3 , often absent, reflexed, of a yellowish/toasted colour with a brownish base, up to 3(-5,5) cm in length. Often folded and seemingly decidous.

Stem

Segments obovate or partly rounded at apex, faded and glaucous, dull grey-green more or less glaucous. They measure 10-20 cm. in length.

Fruits

Pear-shaped, covered with fine spines and glochids, purple.

Areoles

Large, widely separated, round. Often spineless.