Opuntia aciculata

Opuntia aciculata
Middle image is Opuntia aciculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Species:
O. aciculata
Binomial name
Opuntia aciculata
Griffiths

Opuntia aciculata, also called Chenille pricklypear,[2][3][4] old man's whiskers, and cowboy's red whiskers,[4] is a perennial dicot and an attractive ornamental cactus native to Texas. It belongs to the genus Opuntia (prickly pear cacti). It is also widespread in Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas (northern Mexico).

It was reported from Nuevo León, Mexico, according to D. Weniger in 1970.[5] The specific name aciculata derives from many sources: the Latin word acicula which means “a small pin for a headdress”, and the adjectival suffix for nouns atus, meaning possessive of or likeness to something (with, shaped, made), while for verb participles it means a completed action. Chenille prickly pear, one of its vernacular names, comes for the fringe of spines around the edge of the pad.[6] The specific name also means "covered with small pins".[7][8]

  1. ^ Heil, K.; Terry, M. (2017) [amended version of 2013 assessment]. "Opuntia aciculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T152685A121604669. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T152685A121604669.en. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ Kinsey, T. B. (3 February 2010). "Opuntia aciculata – Chenille Pricklypear". Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Opuntia aciculata". United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Opuntia aciculata". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Opuntia aciculata". Flora of North America. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  6. ^ Franges, D. S. "Opuntia aciculata". Tucson Gardener. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  7. ^ Cactus Art Nursery. "Opuntia aciculata (Syn: Opuntia engelmannii var. aciculata)".
  8. ^ "Opuntia aciculata". Cactus Art. Retrieved 21 December 2012.