Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha is a flowering plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet is derived polyacantha πολύ from the Greek words ( poly) for "a lot" and ἅκανθα ( acantha ) for " thorn" and refers to the many thorns of Art English common names are " Cliff Prickly Pear ", " Grizzly Bear Prickly Pear " " Hairy Prickly Pear "," Hedgehog Prickly Pear "," Juniper Prickly Pear "," Nichol 's Prickly Pear "," Plains Prickly Pear "," Porcupine Prickly Pear "," Red- Spined Prickly Pear and " Starvation Prickly Pear ".
Description
Opuntia polyacantha grows bushy with many branches. It forms cushions or mats that reach a height of up to 15 centimeters and a width of several meters. The round to broadly inversely egg-shaped engine segments are blue green and bare. They are 5 to 12.5 inches long, 3.5 to 10 inches wide and up to 1 inch thick. The closely spaced areoles wear yellow, inconspicuous glochids. The 6 to 10 needle-like spines are straight, curved or bent back down and 1 to 12.5 inches long.
The yellow flowers are 4.5 to 6 inches long and have diameters from 4.5 to 8 centimeters. The brown, dry fruits are inversely - ovate. They have a diameter from 1.2 to 2.5 centimeters.
Systematics and distribution
Opuntia polyacantha is widespread in the western United States and southern Canada. In Mexico, it is hardly available. The first description was published in 1819 by Adrian Hardy Haworth.
There are five varieties:
- Opuntia polyacantha var polyacantha
- Opuntia polyacantha var arenaria ( Engelm. ) BDParfitt
- Opuntia erinacea var polyacantha ( Engelm. & JMBigelow ) BDParfitt
- Opuntia polyacantha var hystricina ( Engelm. & JMBigelow ) BDParfitt
- Opuntia polyacantha var nicholii ( LDBenson ) BDParfitt
There are known numerous synonyms.
Use
The Blackfoot use Opuntia polyacantha in many ways. Drive sections are used for removing warts by being rubbed on the appropriate skin site. Peeled drive sections are bound as bandage on wounds. With the thorns a kind of acupuncture is performed.
They also use the mucus of Opuntia polyacantha for fixing colors.