Opuntia monacantha
Opuntia monacantha
Opuntia monacantha is a flowering plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The epithet of the species is derived from the Greek words μόνος ( monos ) "single" for and ἅκανθα ( acantha ) for " thorn" from.
Description
Opuntia monacantha grows almost like a tree with multiple branches and reaches a height of up to 2 meters. The oval to elongated, narrowed at the base instincts are glossy green. They are quite thin and 10 to 30 inches long. The widely spaced areoles bear brownish glochids. The straight spine (rarely two to three available) is brown and 3-4 inches long.
The dark yellow flowers reach a diameter of up to 8 centimeters. The pear- shaped, red fruits are thornless and up to 7 inches long.
Systematics, distribution and hazard
Opuntia monacantha is widespread in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. The first description as Cactus monacanthos was published in 1813 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow. By Adrian Hardy Haworth the type in 1819 was placed in the genus Opuntia. Many authors, including Nathaniel Lord Britton and JN Rose and Curt Backeberg, Opuntia monacantha held for only a different name for Opuntia vulgaris.
Opuntia monacantha is on the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN as "Least Concern ( LC) ," ie, as not threatened, classified.