A NORTHERN PRICKLY PEAR 



J. C. BLU.MER 

 North Batileford, Saskatchewan 



While collecting plants on the north bank of the North Sas- 

 katchewan River at North Battleford, Canada, in latitude 53°, the 

 writer found, on August 14, 1912, a little colon}' of a very small 

 prickly pear. Its longest joints are little more than 1 inch in 

 diameter and raise not more than 2 or 3 inches above the ground, 

 if at all. The very young joints are cylindrical, not flat like those 

 of the desert prickly pears. Even the adult joints, while quite 

 flat, are relatively very thick. The obovate joints and the color 

 of the spines suggest Opuntia Blakeana. A single dried flower was 

 found upon a shrivelled ovar}', but no fruits were maturing. The 

 plants have fibrous roots, ramifying through the surface soil. 

 Reproduction takes place by the joints becoming detached and 

 sending out roots of their own, as is characteristic of some cylin- 

 drical species of the Lower Sonoran Desert. Only one colony 

 could be found, which covers densely an area of some 6 or 8 square 

 yards. 



Specimens were sent to Washington, D. C, whence they went to 

 the plant introduction garden of the Department of Agriculture, 

 at Chico, California, and Dr. Griffiths writes: "The Opuntia which 

 you kindly sent belongs to the 0. polyacantha group, as indicated 

 by Professor Wooton, and should be classed under 0. fragilis. It 

 represents the northern form of that species and differs from it, so 

 far as I know, only in stature. I have however not seen flowers 

 and only two imperfect fruits. Yours is the second collection I 

 have seen recently from the region. The first came in a short time 

 ago from Alberta, almost directly west of you and north of Calgary. 

 There it grew on sandy soils. Your specunen has slightly larger 

 joints. I am quite certain that we shall be able to grow your plant 

 along with the other, .... and this will enable me to 



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