Opuntia

Opuntia is a very large genus of cacti, varying in size from 2 inches tall (5 cm) miniature plants to 100 feet tall (30 m) trees. They are native from Canada, to Chile and Argentina. The genus has been split several times, but there doesn't seem to be a consensus yet on the best way to do that. The name Opuntia comes from the name of a Greek city.

All Opuntias not only have normal spines, but they also have thin barbed spines barely visible, named glochids. These can get stuck in your skin and be very irritating. In some species, they are particularly light and can become airborne when the Opuntia is moved. Wetting the plant before handling it might be a good prevention.

Opuntias often have large, colorful flowers. The fruit is also large and generally edible.

Species and varieties
Opuntia acanthocarpa (Buckhorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Opuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis (Buckhorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis
Opuntia acanthocarpa var. major (Major Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. major
Opuntia acanthocarpa var. thornberi (Buckhorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Opuntia aciculata (Chenille Prickly pear)
Opuntia airampo (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia andicola (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Opuntia angustata (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia arborescens synonym of Cylindropuntia imbricata
Opuntia arbuscula (Pencil Cholla, Tasajo) synonym of Cylindropuntia arbuscula
Opuntia argentina (Cuija) synonym of Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia articulata (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Opuntia articulata var. syringacantha synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus var. syringacanthus
Opuntia bahamana (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia bahiensis (Cuija) synonym of Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia ballii (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia barbata synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia basilaris (Beavertail Cactus)
Opuntia basilaris subsp. whitneyana (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. brachyclada (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. heilii (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. humistrata (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. longiareolata (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. ramosa (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. treleasii (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia basilaris var. whitneyana (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia bigelovii (Teddy Bear Cholla, Choya Güera) synonym of Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Opuntia bigelovii var. ciribe (Teddy Bear Cholla, Choya Güera) synonym of Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Opuntia brachyclada (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia brachyclada subsp. humistrata (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia brasiliensis (Cuija) synonym of Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia brittonii (Desert Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Opuntia californica (Buckhorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Opuntia camanchica (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia cantabrigiensis (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia charlestonensis (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia chlorotica (Pancake Prickly Pear)
Opuntia chlorotica var. santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia santa-rita
Opuntia ciribe (Teddy Bear Cholla, Choya Güera) synonym of Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Opuntia compressa (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus) synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia compressa var. macrorhiza (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia cordobensis (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus) synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia delicata (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia diademata (Spruce Cone Cholla, Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus var. diadematus
Opuntia dillei (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia discata (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia echinocarpa (Silver Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia echinocarpus
Opuntia echinocarpa var. major (Major Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. major
Opuntia echinocarpa var. robustior (Major Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. major
Opuntia emoryi (Devil Cholla, Stanly's Club Cholla) synonym of Grusonia emoryi
Opuntia engelmannii var. aciculata (Chenille Prickly pear) synonym of Opuntia aciculata
Opuntia engelmannii var. discata (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus)
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis (Cow Tongue Prickly Pear)
Opuntia engelmannii var. littoralis (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia littoralis
Opuntia exaltata (Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla) synonym of Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Opuntia falcata synonym of Consolea falcata
Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus)
Opuntia frutescens (Desert Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Opuntia fulgida (Smooth Chain Fruit Cholla, Boxing Glove Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia fulgida
Opuntia glomerata sensu Britton & Rose (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Opuntia gosseliniana var. santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia santa-rita
Opuntia guerrana (Nopal Tapón, Bartolona, Silver Dollar) synonym of Opuntia robusta
Opuntia heacockae synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia herfeldtii (Cow blinder) synonym of Opuntia rufida
Opuntia hernandezii synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia humistrata (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia icterica synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia imbricata synonym of Cylindropuntia imbricata
Opuntia imbricata var. arborescens synonym of Cylindropuntia imbricata
Opuntia imbricata var. vexans synonym of Cylindropuntia imbricata
Opuntia inermis (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia invicta synonym of Grusonia invicta
Opuntia juniperina synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia kelvinensis synonym of Cylindropuntia × kelvinensis
Opuntia keyensis (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia kleiniae var. tetracantha synonym of Cylindropuntia × tetracantha
Opuntia leptocaulis (Desert Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Opuntia leucotricha (Duraznillo Blanco, Nopal Blanco)
Opuntia lindheimeri var. aciculata (Chenille Prickly pear) synonym of Opuntia aciculata
Opuntia linguiformis (Cow Tongue Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis
Opuntia littoralis (Coastal Prickly Pear)
Opuntia lloydii synonym of Cylindropuntia imbricata
Opuntia longiareolata (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia lubrica (Cow blinder) synonym of Opuntia rufida
Opuntia macdougaliana synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia macrocalyx (Bunny Ears, Polka Dot Cactus) synonym of Opuntia microdasys
Opuntia macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear)
Opuntia macrorhiza (Plains Prickly Pear)
Opuntia magnifica (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia maxima (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus) synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia media synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia microcarpa (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears, Polka Dot Cactus)
Opuntia missouriensis synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia missouriensis var. rufispina synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia missouriensis var. trichophora synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia mojavensis (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia neoargentina (Cuija) synonym of Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia oblongata synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia ochrocentra var. inermis (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia papyracantha (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus
Opuntia phaeacantha (Mojave Prickly Pear)
Opuntia phaeacantha ssp. camanchica (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. angustata (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. camanchica (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. charlestonensis (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. discata (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia phaeacantha var. major (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. mojavensis (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. nigricans (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia phaeacantha var. superbospina (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia pinkavae
Opuntia platyacantha fa. mojavensis (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia plumbea (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha var. juniperina synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha var. rufispina synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha var. schweriniana synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha var. trichophora synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia pottsii (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia procumbens (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia ramosissima (Diamond Cholla, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia ramosissima
Opuntia rhodantha synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia robusta (Nopal Tapón, Bartolona, Silver Dollar)
Opuntia robusta var. guerrana (Nopal Tapón, Bartolona, Silver Dollar) synonym of Opuntia robusta
Opuntia rufida (Cow blinder)
Opuntia rutila synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear)
Opuntia sarca synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia schulzii (Cuija) synonym of Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Opuntia schweriniana synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia segethii (Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla) synonym of Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Opuntia setispina (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia sphaerocarpa (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia spinosior (Cane Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia spinosior
Opuntia splendens synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia stanlyi (Devil Cholla, Stanly's Club Cholla) synonym of Grusonia emoryi
Opuntia stricta (Coastal Prickly Pear)
Opuntia strobiliformis (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Opuntia subarmata (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia subulata (Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla) synonym of Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Opuntia superbospina (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia tardospina (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia tenuispina (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia tesselata (Diamond Cholla, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia ramosissima
Opuntia tetracantha synonym of Cylindropuntia × tetracantha
Opuntia thornberi (Buckhorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia tomentosa var. hernandezii synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia tortispina (Plains Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrorhiza
Opuntia treleasii (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia trichophora synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia tricolor (Engelmann's Prickly pear, Calico Cactus) synonym of Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
Opuntia tuna-blanca (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus) synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia turpinii (Paper Spine Cactus) synonym of Tephrocactus articulatus
Opuntia ursina synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia ursus-horribilis synonym of Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia vaginata (Desert Christmas Cactus, Pencil Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Opuntia velutina var. macdougaliana synonym of Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia versicolor (Staghorn Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia versicolor
Opuntia violacea (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia violacea var. castetteri (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra (Black-Spine Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia violacea var. santa-rita (Santa Rita Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia santa-rita
Opuntia vulgaris (Prickly pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus) synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia vulgaris var. balaerica (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia vulgaris var. balearica (Coastal Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia stricta
Opuntia whipplei (Whipple Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia whipplei
Opuntia whipplei var. spinosior (Cane Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia spinosior
Opuntia whitneyana (Beavertail Cactus) synonym of Opuntia basilaris
Opuntia wigginsii (Silver Cholla) synonym of Cylindropuntia echinocarpus
Opuntia woodsii (Mojave Prickly Pear) synonym of Opuntia phaeacantha
Opuntia xanthostemma synonym of Opuntia polyacantha

© 2004 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.