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Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm.

Desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyCactaceaeSucculent (water-storing) plants, often spiny
GenusOpuntiaPrickly pears
SpeciesphaeacanthaFrom the Greek root phae- or phaios meaning “dusky, dark or gray” and acanthos, “spine,” thus dark- or gray-spined. Thanks to Philippe Faucon at Desert-Tropicals.com for information regarding this name

About plant names...

These prickly pears are the most familiar and widespread, native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Identification: Desert prickly pear forms spreading colonies and shrubs. Flowers are bright yellow with pale red centers, peach-colored, pinkish, or reddish. Spines are brown, reddish brown, or gray, up to 1½" (3.8 cm) long. See this Opuntia comparison table.

Online References:

Opuntia phaeacantha on Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Opuntia phaeacantha on Wikipedia

Opuntia phaeacantha at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Opuntia phaeacantha on CactiGuide.com

Opuntia phaeacantha on CalPhotos

Opuntia phaeacantha on

Opuntia phaeacantha on Desert-tropicals.com

Opuntia phaeacantha on SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

Opuntia phaeacantha from the Jepson Manual

Opuntia phaeacantha on eFloras

References:

Anderson, Edward F., The Cactus Family, Timber Press, 2001, p. 511

Bowers, Nora and Rick; Tekiela, Stan, Cactus of Arizona Field Guide, Adventure Publications Inc., 2008

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

7/11/1991 · Near Saddle Rd, Hawaii ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

6/3/2009 · Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah
≈ 7 × 8" (18 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, Cali­fornia
≈ 11 × 10" (27 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. cycloides Engelm. & Bigelow

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. camanchica (Engelm. & Bigelow) L.D. Benson

Opuntia arizonica Griffiths

Opuntia canada Griffiths

Opuntia charlestonensis Clokey

Opuntia dulcis Engelm.

Opuntia gilvescens Griffiths

Opuntia mojavensis Engelm.

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. brunnea (Engelm.) Engelm.

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. major Engelm.

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. mojavensis (Engelm.) Fosberg

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. nigricans (Engelm.) Engelm.

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. phaeacantha

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. superbospina (Griffiths) L.D. Benson

Opuntia superbospina Griffiths

Opuntia woodsii Backeb.

Opuntia camanchica Engelm. & Bigelow

Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. cycloides Engelm. & Bigelow

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. camanchica (Engelm. & Bigelow) L.D. Benson

Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. cycloides Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow

Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. var. camanchica (Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow) L.D. Benson

 

Opuntia phaeacantha description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


  

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/22/2009 · Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Ari­zona
≈ 6 × 4' (1.8 × 1.2 m) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/24/2009 · Saguaro National Park, Ari­zona
≈ 6 × 4' (1.9 × 1.3 m) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia
≈ 10 × 15" (26 × 39 cm)

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 5 × 3½' (1.6 × 1 m) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Ari­zona
≈ 6 × 7" (14 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

Opuntia phaeacantha (desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, brown-spine prickly pear, tulip pricklypear)

5/27/2009 · Canyon De Chelly, Chinle, Ari­zona
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

Range: Zones 7-10:

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