Opuntia
(the old Latin name used by Pliny, and said to be derived from the city of Opus). Indian Fig; Prickly Pear. ORD. Cacteae. A genus of greenhouse, or hardy succulent trees or shrubs, natives of the tropical and warm regions of America; some of the species have become widely naturalised in the Old World. About 150 species have been described, but many of these are not sufficiently distinct to merit specific rank. Flowers yellow, red, or purple, lateral; calyx tube not produced above the ovary; lobes numerous; petals numerous, connate at base, spreading; stamens many-seriate. Berry pear-shaped, tubercled. Leaves scale-like, deciduous. Stem terete at base, branched; branches articulated, flat, compressed, globose or sub-cylindrical, tubercled; tubercles tomentose, spiny, the young ones leafy.
The cultivation of Opuntias is very easy. All that is necessary for plants in pots is to secure thorough drainage, and give all the light possible. Formerly, broken brick rubbish was supposed to be essential to their well-being, but good loam alone will do quite well. Powdered bricks, mixed with the loam, however, suit the smaller-growing kinds, and insure rapid drainage. During winter, a smaller supply of water is required; indeed, when at rest, the plants should be kept almost dry. The hardy species are extremely interesting, and grow freely in sunny spots in the open air, provided some means be adopted to guard against superabundance of moisture. Some of them, in their native habitats, withstand much more cold than ever is experienced in Britain; but the dry air, or the covering of snow, protects them. An ordinary hand-light, placed over the plants, is shelter enough, provided the position in which they are placed is dry and efficiently drained. Opuntias may be propagated by means of the branches, or portions of them; these should, after being cut off, be laid on a dry shelf for a time, and then planted or laid on well-drained pots of loam and brick-dust; but very little water should be given until roots are emitted. Seeds, too, are readily raised; the appearance of the seedlings is shown in Fig. 749. The following extracts from the "Transactions of the Horticultural Society" are interesting as showing what may be done in a Surrey garden; they are from a paper "On the Treatment of the Cactus Opuntia, or Prickly Pear; under which it will perfectly mature its fruit in the open air of England," read on 3rd Sept., 1816, communicated by Mr. John Braddick, Thames Ditton: "Having heretofore observed that the plant, in its wild state, delighted in a dry soil amongst rocks near the skirts of the sunny sides of the forests [the writer is speaking of Virginia], I, in consequence, planted it in the compost described below, placed in a sheltered position open to the sun. The first plant that I turned out has lived in the open ground of this country for six or seven years, during which period it has endured one exceeding hard winter, and several trying springs; and in all, except the first two years, it has never failed to ripen its fruit and seeds, so that it may be now considered decidedly naturalised. It is now growing vigorously; and, although the present season has been decidedly unfavourable, yet I doubt not but it will produce a plentiful crop of flowers, and ripen its fruit fit for the table during the course of the next month. . . . The compost used by me for growing the Cactus Opuntia is the following: One half is carbonate of lime, for which lime rubbish from old buildings will answer; the remaining half consists of equal portions of London clay and peat earth, having the acid neutralised by barilla; these are intimately blended and sifted. One square yard of this compost I conceive to be sufficient for one plant, which must be placed in the middle of a small artificial hillock, raised eighteen inches above the surface of the ground, which ground should be rendered perfectly dry, if not naturally so, by under-draining. Neither the leaves, flowers, nor fruit should ever be suffered to touch the ground; but they should, as constantly as they are produced, be kept from the earth, by placing stones, pebbles, flints, or bricks under them, in imitation of artificial rockwork." All the species mentioned require greenhouse treatment, except where otherwise stated. Probably several others would succeed in the open, in addition to those marked hardy.
O. andicola (Andine). Plant much-branched; joints Cucumber-like, elongated, attenuated at apex, shining brownish-green in colour, at length woody; are olae somewhat crowded, setose; prickles three or four, sub-rigid, slender, and one or two long ones, white. Andes of Chili.
O. arborescens (arborescent).* fl. beautiful purple, 2 1/2in. to 3in. in diameter; stigmas eight. Summer. fr. about 1in. long. Stems about 5ft. high (said to attain a height of 20ft. or 30ft. at its southern limits); tubercles green, spiny, compressed-cristate, elevated, 3/4in. long; spines very variable in number and size. Mexico, &c.
O. Auberi (Auber's). Plant erect, large; joints glaucescent, thick, oblong-ovate, with repand margins; areolae remote; prickles mostly four, white, angular, one or two larger than the rest. Cuba.
O. aurantiaca (orange). fl. orange-yellow. Joints linear or linear-lanceolate, divaricate, compressed at apex, terete at base, marked with dark green spots around the areolae; areolae large convex, white-tomentose; spines unequal, the three longer ones rigid, brown, divergent, the two or three shorter ones white. h. 3ft. Chili, 1824. (B. R. 1606.)
O. basilaris (base-branching). fl. rose-purple, large. Summer. fr. sub-globose, deeply umbilicated. Stems low, branching only from the base: joints obovate, often retuse or fan-shaped; areolae very close, densely covered with short, brown bristles. California, Arizona, &c.
O. Bigelovii (Bigelow's).* "Branches forming a dense head younger joints erect, adpressed, fragile, often shaken off by the wind, and covering the soil around, taking root everywhere, or sticking to the clothes of the passers-by, like burrs" (Engelmann). Joints 2in. to 6in. long, fresh light green, covered with the small, almost hemispherical tubercles, which are arranged mostly in thirteen spirals. h. 10ft. to 12ft. Colorado.
O. boliviana (Bolivian). stem articulated, sub-erect; joints 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, ovate-oblong, smooth, very pale green, becoming yellowish with age; tubercles round, young ones greyish-yellow; prickles 3in. to 4in. long, flexible, white, sub-pellucid. h. over 1ft. Bolivia.
O. brachyarthra (short-jointed). fl. small; stigmas five. Plant ascendent; joints ovate or orbiculate, tumid, often sub-globose, tubercled; tubercles crowded; prickles in groups of from three to five.
O. braziliensis (Brazilian).* fl. bright lemon-yellow, 1in. to 1 1/2in. in diameter; petals imbricated, sub-patent, the outer ones short, thick, and fleshy, the inner ones from 1/2in. to 1in. long. May and June. fr. transparent-yellow, sub-globose, with dense fascicles of chestnut-coloured bristles. Branches horizontal or declining, spiny; ultimate joints obovate or obovate-oblong. h. 10ft. to 30ft. Brazil, 1816. (B. M. 3293.)
O. candelabriformis (candelabrum-shaped). Plant sub-erect; joints obovate or elliptic, glaucous-green; areolae somewhat crowded; prickles four or five, white, and one very long one. Mexico.
O. cochinellifera (Cochineal-bearing). A synonym of Nopalea coccinellifera.
O. corrugata (wrinkled). fl. reddish-yellow. August. Stem articulated; joints erect, cylindrical, green; areolae crowded; prickles pale tomentose, the upper ones very minute and setaceous, the lower ones six to eight, white, and elongated. h. 2ft. Chili, 1824.
O. crinifera (hair-bearing). Plant sub-erect; joints ovate or elongated, slender, greenish; areolae somewhat crowded, white, convex; lower prickles three or four, slender, slightly rigid, reddish; upper ones copious, white, long, silky. Brazil, 1846.
O. curassavica (Curassoa). fl. yellow. June. Plant suberect; joints fragile, cylindrico-ventricose, compressed, dark green, much divaricated; areolae crowded, white-tomentose, slightly woolly; prickles three to five, unequal, dark, eventually becoming white, acutely pungent. h. 6ft. Curassoa, 1690. There are several varieties of this species.
O. cylindrica (cylindrical).* fl. scarlet, 1in. in diameter, inconspicuous, several together just below the ends of the branches; petals short, erect. fr. pale yellowish-green, 2in. long, 1in. broad. l. deciduous, 1/2in. long, cylindrical, acute. Stems several, cylindrical, the main one 6ft. or more high, all thickly armed with pale or white, fine, but not long, spines. Peru, 1799. (B. M. 3301.)
O. Davisii (Davis').* fl. of a remarkable bronzy-greenish colour, 2in. in diameter. Stems tuberculate-terete, 1/2in. in diameter; spines five or six in a tuft, about 1/2in. long. New Mexico, 1883. A small, shrubby species. (B. M. 6652.)
O. decipiens (deceptive). Plant erect, branched, green; branches spreading, cylindrical, attenuated at base; tubercles few, somewhat spirally disposed; areolae small; central prickles yellow, tunicated, spreading-deflexed, the rest (three or four) smaller, somewhat radiating. Mexico.
O. Dillenii (Dillenius'). fl. yellow. September. Plant erect; joints obovate-rotundate, undulated, glaucous; areolae clothed with yellow, eventually white, tomentum; prickles divaricate, yellowish, three to five small ones, and one strong longer one. h. 5ft. (B. R. 255, under name of Cactus Dillenii.)
O. echinocarpa (spiny-fruited).* fl. pale greenish-yellow, about 1 1/2in. across. Summer. fr. depressed, deeply umbilicate, very spiny. A low, much-branched, spreading speces, with ovateclavate joints densely covered with numerous spines, which are loosely coated with a whitish, glistening sheath. Colorado, &c.
O. Engelmanni (Engelmann's).* fl. yellow, with a reddish centre. May and June. Plant large, erect, 4ft. to 6ft. high; joints obovate. Chihuahua, 1854. Hardy.
O. Ficus-Indica.* Indian Fig. fl. yellow. May. fr. red within, bristly, ovate, edible. l. subulate, bristly in the axils, without spines. Stem erect, spreading; joints oval and obovate, 1ft. long. h. 2ft. Mexico, &c., 1731. Hardy. SYN. O. vulgaris.
O. floccosa (woolly). Stem club-shaped at base, thick, shining green, crested, tubercled; tubercles fleshy, prominent; areolae axillary, elongated, woolly. h. from 4in. to 5in. Bolivia.
O. fragilis (fragile). fl. small. fr. ovate, scarcely spiny. l. minute. Plant sub-decumbent; joints small, ovate, somewhat compressed, tumid or sub-globose, hardly tuberculate, shining green; tubercles somewhat crowded, large, white-tomentose; prickles robust. North America, 1814.
O. frutescens (shrubby). fl. greenish, small. fr. scarlet, obovate, without tubercles. Plant shrubby, erect, with slightly erect branches; joints terete; spines almost solitary. Mexico, 1838.
O. glaucophylla (milky-green-leaved). Plant erect; joints obovate, somewhat undulated, glaucous; prickles one or two, subulate, less than 1in. long. Mexico.
O. grandis (large). A synonym of O. stenopetala.
O. Kleiniae (Mrs. Klein's). Plant erect, branched, greyish-green; branches erect, cylindrical, tuberculated; fascicles usually spirally disposed; areolae velvety; prickles, one white, large, spreading-deflexed, the rest reddish-white, innumerable. South Mexico.
O. leptocaulis (slender-stemmed). Plant erect, branched; branches cylindrical, erect, tuberculated; fascicles spirally disposed; areolae sub-tomentose; prickles about three, setaceous, greenish, patent-deflexed, the rest setose, crowded, reddish. North Mexico, 1845.
O. microdasys (small-thick).* Plant sub-erect, diffuse; joints obovate or lanceolate, green, thick at base; areolae regularly clustered. South Mexico, 1845.
O. missouriensis (Missouri).* fl. light yellow. May to July. fr. dry, prickly. l. minute; axils armed with a tuft of straw-coloured bristles and five to ten slender, radiating spines, which are 1in. to 2in. long. Plant prostrate; joints broadly obovate and flat, 2in. to 4in. long, tuberculate. North America, 1814. Hardy.
O. monacantha (one-spined). Plant erect; joints large, elliptic or ovate-oblong, much compressed, glabrous, green; areolae remote, with very short, greyish, bristly tomentum and a single, rigid, brown spine, yellow at apex. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1816. (B. R. 1726, under name of Cactus Opuntia Tuna.)
O. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. yellow. Summer. Plant erect; branches large, ovate or elliptical, flattened; spines clustered, numerous, unequal.
O. nigricans (blackish). fl. pink. August. Plant erect; joints large, ovate or lanceolate, green; areolae remote, fulvous; prickles two or three, unequal, divergent, rigid, dark greenish. h. 3ft. South America, 1795. (B. M. 1557, under name of Cactus Tuna nigricans.)
O. papyracantha (papery-spined). Plant with sub-globose joints and long, papyraceous spines. Argentine Republic, 1872.
O. Parmentieri (Parmentier's). l., leaflets dark red, slender. Joints cucumber-like, pale green; areolae spirally disposed, convex, with reddish-brown tomentum; lower spines two or three, white-stramineous. Paraguay.
O. Pes-corvi (crow-foot). fl., yellow, large; sepals and petals eight to twelve, cuneate; stigmas four. Summer. Stems diffuse, prostrate; joints 1in. to 3in. long, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, spiny; spines by pairs, unequal, elongated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South United States.
O. phaeacantha (gay-spined). fl. yellow, numerous, around the summit of the joints; stigmas six. June. Stem erect; joints oblong; spines yellow or brown painted, strong, unequal. h. 3ft. Mexico, &c., 1811. (B. M. 2691, under name of Cactus poly anthos.)
O. platyacantha (flat-spined). Plant with a low-branching stem, with spreading, cylindric, slightly tuberculated, shining brown branches; areolae large, immersed, armed with setae and spines of different forms and sizes.
O. Paeppigii (Paeppig's). fl. pale yellow, 2in. in diameter, sessile or shortly-stalked, having an exceedingly short ovary, about 1/3in. long. l. incurved, cylindrical. Branches leafy; spines spreading, solitary, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. Chili, 1884. A dwarf bush. (R. G. 1129.)
O. pulverulenta (powdery). Plant erect, thick, cylindrical, pale greyish-blue, powdery, with oblong tubercles; areolae on the tops of the tubercles large, round, bristly, and with two prickles, one of which is very long and the other shorter. Tropical America.
O. Rafinesquii (Rafinesque's).* fl., often with a red centre, larger, and with more numerous petals (ten to twelve) than in O. vulgaris. June. l. spreading, some of the axils bearing a few small spines and a single strong one, 9in. to 12in. long. Plant with deep green joints. h. 1ft. North America, 1868. Hardy.
O. Salmiana (Prince Salm-Dyck's).* fl. yellow, red. September. Plant erect, branched, of a greyish-green colour; branches cylindrical, without tubercles; areolae somewhat crowded, white-tomentose, the mature ones pulvinately globose. the lower ones with three or four minute, reddish prickles. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1850. (B. M. 4542; L. & P. F. G. i. 101.) O. Segethi (Segeth's). This species is similar in habit to O. Paeppigii, but has much longer flowers, the ovary being 3 1/2in. long, with a few thick, cylindric, spreading bracts, 1in. long; corolla pale pink, 1 1/2in. in diameter. Chili, 1884. (R. G. 1129.)
O. stenopetala (narrow-petaled). fl. yellow, small; sepals and petals subulate, sub-erect. Plant prostrate; joints large; prickles one to three, deflexed. Mexico, &c., 1835. SYN. O. grandis.
O. sulphurea (sulphur-coloured). fl. yellow. July. Stem articulated; joints erect, subglobose, of a beautiful green colour; prickles pale-tomentose; upper ones bristly, dark purple, very minute, penicillately collected; lower ones six to twelve, elongated, acicular, white, purple at the apex; central ones very long. h. 2ft. Chili, 1827.
O. Tuna (Tuna).* fl. reddish-orange. July. fr. rich carmine, 2in. to 3in. long. Branches jointed, 4in. to 8in. or more long, oval or oblong, with distant bundles of yellow, unequal, spreading spines. Stem (of an old plant) sometimes 20ft. high. West Indies, &c., 1731.
O. tunicata (coated-spined). Plant sub-erect, much-branched; branches green, divergent, attenuated at base, tuberculate-areolar; areolae obtuse, oblong, white-tomentose; prickles four to six large ones, and two or three small ones, all white, membranous, sub-pellucid, tunicated. Mexico, 1840.
O. Turpinii (Turpin's). Plant articulate, erect, low, with mammillariform tubercles, greyish-green; joints globose-ovate, crowded, young ones about 2in. in diameter; areolae round, white-tomentose; prickles biformed, varying from three to ten lines long. Chili, 1844.
O. vulgaris (common).* fl. pale sulphur-yellow. June. fr. nearly smooth, pulpy, edible. l. minute, ovate-subulate and appressed; axils bristly, rarely with a few small spines. Plant low, prostrate or spreading, with flat and broadly obovate joints. h.2ft. Mexico, &c., 1596. (B. M. 2393, under name of Cactus Opuntia.) O. vulgaris (common), of Tenore. A synonym of O. Ficus-Indica.