Opuntia oricola
Opuntia Oricola
Opuntia Oricola is a flowering plant in the genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ) from the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The specific epithet Oricola means ( Greich, oros, mountain ) and (lat. cola, inhabit ) stands for an occurrence in the mountains'.
Description
Opuntia Oricola growing shrubby to tree -shaped and reaches stature heights of 1 to 3 feet. The elliptical to circular drive sections are 15 to 25 inches long and 12 to 19 inches wide. The 4.5 to 6 mm in diameter measured areoles are 1.2 to 2 inches apart. The four to 16 yellow and translucent spines become gray in old age or be black. They are bent and twisted slightly, not roughened and from 2 to 4 inches long.
The yellow flowers reach diameter of 5 to 6 centimeters. The almost spherical, fleshy, red fruits are 2.5 to 4 inches long and achieve just such diameter.
Systematics and distribution
Opuntia Oricola is distributed in the United States in the south of the state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California.
The first description by Ralph N. Philbrick was published in 1964.