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Opuntia ficus-indica
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Hot Springs
Photo: Bart Wursten
Val D'Or
Photo: Bart Wursten
Val D'Or
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Opuntia megacantha Salm Dyck |
| Common names: | Idolofiya (Ndebele) Mudorofia (Shona) Munanazi (Shona) Sweet prickly-pear (English) |
| Frequency: | Frequent |
| Status: | Introduced |
| Description: |
Robust shrub-like succulent. True leaves are absent and their role is taken over by the flattened, disc-shaped branches, called cladodes with or without tufts of strong, sharp spines. Flowers borne on the margins of cladodes, yellow to orange. Fruits oval (image 3), covered in tufts of minute spines, which irritate the skin on contact. |
| Notes: | It is widely grown as a hedge plant and for the fruits, which are sweet tasting and popular. It has become naturalised in many places, particularly in drier areas. |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In woodland and more open habitats |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native to C America, widely naturalised in warm areas of the world |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | C,S |
| Growth form: | S |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects (whose larvae eat this species): | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Friday 8 September 2006 |
| Literature: |
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comments powered by DisqusOther sources of information about Opuntia ficus-indica:
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Opuntia ficus-indica pageAfrican Plant Database: Opuntia ficus-indica
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Opuntia ficus-indica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Opuntia ficus-indica
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Opuntia ficus-indica
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Opuntia ficus-indica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Opuntia ficus-indica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Opuntia ficus-indica
JSTOR Plant Science: Opuntia ficus-indica
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Opuntia ficus-indica
Tropicos: Opuntia ficus-indica
West African Plants database: Opuntia ficus-indica
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