''Opuntia robusta'', the wheel cactus, nopal tapon, or camuesa, is a species of
cactus in the family
Cactaceae.
[ It is native and ]endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to central and northern Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
to within of the Arizona and New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
borders where it grow from on rocky slopes, open shrub lands, woodlands and mixed with other cactus and succulents.
Description
Plants are commonly around high, though they may grow to over high when supported.[ These are up to in diameter and have the length of sharp spines up to .][ Yellow, sessile flowers with a fleshy base are produced on the edges of the upper stem segments.][ These are followed by barrel-shaped fleshy fruits which are pink or purple and up to long.][
''Opuntia robusta'' has populations that are ]dioecious
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...
, hermaphrodite, or trioecious (containing male, female, and hermaphrodite individuals).
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in 1837 in ''Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum hucusque Cognitarum''.[ It has naturalised in the states of ]South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
and Victoria in Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
Images
File:Oputniahmo.JPG, ''Opuntia robusta'' flower.
File:Opuntia robusta close up.jpg, ''Opuntia robusta'' stem segment and immature fruit.
References
robusta
ROBUSTA (Radiation on Bipolar for University Satellite Test Application) is a nano-satellite scientific experiment developed by the University of Montpellier students as part of a Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) call for student projects ...
Endemic flora of Mexico
Cacti of Mexico
{{Cactus-stub