OPUNTIAS 
HE Cactaceae (Cactus Family) is separated from all other plants by its peculiar organ 
called an ‘‘areole’”’ from which the vegetative branches, spines, glochids, hairs, glands and 
flowers arise. The family is divided into 3 tribes. Pereskieae has broad leaves, no glochids 
and stalked flowers, plants shrubby or vine-like. Opuntieae has glochids and leaves, mostly 
small and fugacious, and wheel-shaped flowers (petals erect in Nopalea, glochids wanting 
in Maihuenia). All other cacti belong to the Cereeae which has no glochids, no leaves (except 
2 cotyledons) and flowers with ene or short tubes (except Rhipsalis). Anyone can thus 
identify the tribe to which a plant belongs. ; 
Onathese two pages we ae interested only in the various genera related to Opuntia and 
to Pereskia which last belongs to the first tribe. There are well over 300 species of Opuntia 
few of which are in cultivation, due in part to the wickedly spiny character of many species, 
in part to the general sameness of so many kinds and in part to the robust habit of many. 
Opuntias are found from British Columbia east to Massachusetts and south to the Strait of 
DOLLAR CACTUS 
Opuntia santa-rita has circular, blue powdered pads 
and really handsome yellow blossoms with a reddish 
eye. It grows well and flowers freely. Makes an at- 
tractive silhouette. The species is native to south- 
eastern Arizona. If in a very sunny 35 
location give a rich soil. Each c 
OPUNTIA 
The basic genus of the tribe from which several 
of the other genera are segregates with no real dif- 
ferences of primary taxonomic importance. Each botan- 
ist who has monographed them has his personal way 
of splitting the genus into subgenera and series and 
none have ever agreed. For convenience we follow 
Britton & Rose but split off Tephrocactus and Con- 
solea for catalog purposes only. The round stemmed 
ones are called Cylindropuntia, flat stemmed Platy- 
opuntia. 
Opuntia aciculata. 6” - 8” pads... 75¢ 
Opuntia basilaris. Coastal form. Page 27 35¢ 
Opuntia basilaris alba. Pale green... 35c 
Opuntia brasiliensis. Tree-like......____ ...35¢ 
Opuntia brasiliensis peruviana. Dwarf... 50c DWARF TREE OPUNTIA 
Opuntia bulbispina. Dwarf... 35¢ Opuntia vilis (there is a question as to the deter- : ANGEL WINGS : t 
mination though long in the trade) is a well-branched Opuntia microdasys albata is a lovely dainty little 
tiny tree some 4” tall. When allowed to develop it plant the areoles filled with cottony white glochids. 
forms a mat. This charming Mexican species is par- Completely spineless the slochids do not stick! It 
ticularly liked because of its distinct tree-like growth. branches freely and remains dwarf the pure white 
Likes a sandy, poor soil and a light Ides) cushions showing brightly against the dark green pads. 
OU aren Y PLAC Sar ree sae cee eee eee a teem cpecces Cc Sandy soil, moderate waterings 25¢ 
} - and Light’  positlorys scl ccy cao e was cas ee Soren se cemsedoens 
Opuntia Ficus-indica. The fruit and cattle fodder CONSOLEA 
PRoducine#spectes=. Pads ess ee ee ee $1 ‘ ‘ 
re} Rank ‘lis. Wint hard Horerlonce | Tree-like with round trunks when mature. 
| Lahde HEE dale PSUR aE as ABD eas or Consolea falcata. A tall spiny species.................... 35e 
Ne ee © CONSOLEA RUBESCENS. A handsome, spineless 
Opuntia leptocaulis. Long, yellow-sheathed spines 40c species with dark bronze colored pads which continue 
: . sane to grow in’ Jength=-MachsSs oS oan eee eee 40c 
Opuntia Moelleri. Round, short joints................ 35c 
Opuntia opuntia. 1952. Hardy... 40c QUIABENTIA 
. one A small tree-like South American genus near Opuntia 
Opuntia pailiana. Rare but scars badly... 40c though the species were first in Pereskia to which 
Opuntia rhodantha. 1952. Hardy. Red flowers........ 50c they are not closely related. Flowers borne on ends of 
: eS branchlets the ovary invaginated in the tip bearing 
Opuntia ramosissima 2 eee 40c leaves and areoles, rotate, bright red. Leaves large 
i i Hf eteet © Ee oA ee c and thick, spines acicular, glochids said to be present. 
Opuntia Schickendantzii Puce Coed See } 25 Quiabentia chacoensis........................ ee A Be ee 75¢ 
Opuntia tomentosa. Spineless tree type. Fine........ 35c NO LEA 
PA 
TEPHROCACTUS All but one of the 8 species are tree-like with dis- 
CRESTED OPUNTIA : A group of 1 to few-jointed, round stemmed, South American tinct trunks and rather long narrow pads. They differ 
Opuntia serpentina cristata is one of the opuntias of rather distinctive appearance. They are mountain from Opuntia only in the erect petals and the exserted 
best of the crested forms. The stems are species found in Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. T. floccosa stamens though the plants have a character all their own. 
thin and very undulate and_ seldom or which is covered with woolly white hair grows as high as 13,500’ Nopalea Auberi. Pretty, light red flowers.............. 40c 
never revert to single stems. Grows easily or more in the Andes looking like patches of snow. 
and quickly. 35¢ Tephrocactus glomeratus (diadematus in part) Paper TACINGA 
LD (OUR ean Onn See ea coe een Oe aI | Spined Opuntia. Page 29. _ A curious Brazilian plant near Opuntia but differ- 
Tephrocactus Pentlandii. Spined type... 5c ee in me recurved Detaly nde the row of hairs 
aA ‘Fin etween the stamens and petals. The stamens are longer 
Lene Sables ba peri a neat eee ail naaOe than the petals and erect as in Nopalea. The plant is 
ephrocactus strobi Hormis.” bage : i slender, whip-like, the areoles with caducous glochids, 
Me DM OCACTUS ET UN DUEL eecee coesrecree oieeeg eee tee -75¢ , Clambering | Tacinga’  funalisnsse ee et ee $t 
ANGORA BUNNY EARS 
Opuntia microdasys albe- 
scens a variety with harmless 
white glochids. A pretty plant 
with small ears branching 
freely. Light soil, moderate 
CINNAMON CACTUS stina onan 25c¢ 
Opuntia rufida bears cinnamon-brown 
; } COLDEN TUNA ‘ glochids. Nursery grown plants are small ; FAIRY NEEDLES a HONEY TUNA 
Opuntia grandiflora is a fine east Texas species al- ith eee = : Opuntia Soehrensii is the ‘‘ayram- Opuntia microdasys var. An- 
most spineless and of moderate growth. Flowers up to with many “‘ears’’ and are much used po’’ of Peru the dried seeds are use! other variation with pretty 
5” bright yellow with a red eye. It blossoms very in dish gardens. In warm regions the to color wine or food red. A very honey-colored glochids. In pots 
freely and should prove fairly hardy. A quick and easy plant attains 5’ ; dwarf plant hugging the ground. Spines they remain quite dwarf, per- 
growing species. You will enjoy 35¢ ze ; ie es 25¢ bright yellow. 35 fect miniatures of 25 
this= 00d * planiteco3 Bee A ee ee ee ae LENG Oe Se eneros reercaaecr en ee crs eee Ba hig telet os <1 ete ees eee c large specimens..............., c 
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