Opuntia microdasys
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2009) |
| Opuntia microdasys | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Genus: | Opuntia |
| Species: | O. microdasys |
| Binomial name | |
| Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.) Pfeiff. |
|
Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears Cactus, Bunny Cactus or Polka-dot Cactus) is a species of cactus native and endemic to central and northern Mexico.
Description [edit]
Opuntia microdasys forms a dense shrub 40–60 cm tall, occasionally more, composed of pad-like stems 6–15 cm long and 4–12 cm broad.
Opuntia microdasys has no spines, but instead has numerous white or yellow glochids 2–3 mm long in dense clusters; these detach very easily on being touched, and can cause considerable skin irritation, so the plants must be treated with caution. Despite this, it is a very popular cactus in cultivation.
Related species [edit]
The very closely related Opuntia rufida differs in having reddish-brown glochids. It occurs further north in northern Mexico, and into western Texas. Some botanists treat the two as a single species.
- Species comparison gallery
-
Opuntia rufida
-
Opuntia microdasys
External links [edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Opuntia microdasys |
 |
This Cactaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
