Opuntia monacantha
Appearance
Opuntia monacantha | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Cactaceae |
Genus: | Opuntia |
Species: | O. monacantha
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Binomial name | |
Opuntia monacantha |
Opuntia monacantha, commonly known as drooping prickly pear, cochineal prickly pear, or Barbary fig, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay and is naturalised in Australia and South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and sandy shores.
The species was first formally described in 1812 by botanist Adrian Haworth in Synopsis Plantarum Succulentarum. The name Opuntia vulgaris, which is a synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica, has been misapplied to this species in Australia.
References
- ^ Taylor, N.P. 2002. Opuntia monacantha. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 22 August 2007.
- "Opuntia monacantha". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
- "Opuntia monacantha". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.